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Leicestershire seamer Ben Raine took a wicket with the final ball of the game to secure a tie

ECB/PA26-Jun-2015
ScorecardBen Raine conceded just five, and claimed a last-ball wicket, in the final over to earn a share of the points•Getty ImagesLeicestershire seamer Ben Raine took a wicket with the final ball of the game to secure a tie in a game when it looked as though a superbly paced innings in difficult conditions by Jack Leaning had seen Yorkshire to victory.With Leaning watching from the non-striker’s end after scoring 48 from 30 balls, Raine pinned Adil Rashid leg before with a well-pitched up delivery to delight the Grace Road crowd.”It feels like a win, to be honest, because we felt we were 10 to 20 runs short of a competitive total,” said Raine. “But we fought to save every run and took some brilliant catches, and it just goes to show you should never, ever give up.”Badly needing two points to improve their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals, the Vikings named a side that included England players Jonny Bairstow and Rashid, as well as fit-again Australian opener Aaron Finch, resuming his place at the top of the order after recovering from a bruised lung suffered in a 2nd XI Championship match earlier in the week.Insights

Ben Raine said this felt like a win for Leicestershire and given their position in the match and the table it should. One point for them near the top of the table in a match they seemed set to lose is a bonus. For Yorkshire, who desperately needed a win, this tie could well have killed off any lingering hopes they had of a top four finish. It’s a shame really because Yorkshire have played two strong matches in their last three and are perhaps just beginning to find form.

Leicestershire welcomed back New Zealand international batsman Grant Elliott, as well as destructive Ireland international hitter Kevin O’Brien, a key member of their T20 line-up this season.Andrew Gale chose to bowl first on a slow, low track, and his seamers kept Leicestershire under pressure from the start. Foxes’ skipper Mark Cosgrove holed out to Glenn Maxwell in Matthew Fisher’s first over. Maxwell also took a good low catch running in from deep backward square to see the end of Kevin O’Brien off the bowling of Will Rhodes, and the Vikings continued to take vital wickets, with only Andrea Agathangelou giving the innings any real impetus before being run out for 40.The Foxes bowlers struck back quickly when Clint McKay had Finch leg before for just 2, but Bairstow, in ever increasing gloom, timed the ball superbly, hitting Raine for a six and four off consecutive balls before being bowled by Raine.Maxwell was also threatening to take the game away from Leicestershire when he was brilliantly caught at midwicket by Jigar Naik off the bowling of Ollie Freckingham, and the Foxes continued to fight to save every run.Leaning, though, played with real maturity in placing his shots and running hard, and received good support from Rhodes. Between them they looked to have done enough, but Rhodes was well caught low down by Naik, Richard Pyrah was caught at long-on, and Raine’s final over was good enough to secure the tie.

Somerset delivered a painful blow to Gloucestershire’s season by chasing their target with five wickets and two balls to spare

Freddie Wilde in Bristol19-Jun-2015
ScorecardJohann Myburgh anchored the Somerset chase (file photo)•Getty ImagesIt is hard to walk around Bristol and not see something about the NatWest T20 Blast. Billboards, bus stations and, most conspicuously, the train station are laden with advertising for the season. “T20 cricket in the heart of Bristol” they read – and this west country derby felt like a culmination of that concerted marketing push.Although the result was unlikely to dampen the fervour of a raucous crowd it was Somerset, with a canny performance with the ball and a powerful one with the bat, who delivered a painful blow to Gloucestershire’s season by chasing their target with five wickets and two balls to spare. Johann Myburgh’s 50-ball 63 anchored Somerset’s chase but Max Waller, Sohail Tanvir and Jim Allenby deserve enormous credit for their frugal bowling that set up Somerset’s win.Somerset had won five of their last six away matches in Bristol and, in front of a sell-out crowd and apartment balconies teeming with fans, their quality set them apart from Gloucestershire as they just edged them in all three departments and held their nerve at the pivotal moments.Back-to-back sixes clubbed by Tom Cooper in the penultimate over of Somerset’s run chase with 19 required from 11 and consecutive wides bowled by James Fuller in the final over will be looked back on as match-deciding, and that they were in a chase that became far more tense than it need have been, but Somerset were ahead of the match from the start.The Powerplay, plundered for 59 for 1 by Somerset in comparison to Gloucestershire’s 37 for 1, represented the difference between the two teams. On a pitch that was perhaps harder to bat on than first impressions suggested, with the ball seaming and beating the edge, Allenby and Myburgh used their feet excellently in the initial overs, forcing Gloucestershire to adjust their lengths. Earlier, Gloucestershire, perhaps overwhelmed by the occasion or taken aback by a pitch not quite as true as they had imagined, allowed Somerset to dictate terms with the ball.Allenby, Tanvir and Gregory bowled five outstanding overs at the start of the match, keeping tight lines and using canny cutters. Peter Handscomb fell for a seven-ball duck and Michael Klinger, in such rich T20 form, was also effectively tied down.Insights

Peter Handscomb has made six single-figure scores in his seven innings so far for Gloucestershire and while playing predominantly in T20 – as Gloucestershire’s second overseas player – is perhaps finding a scarcity of cricket a problem in foreign conditions. He is also opening the batting for Gloucestershire whereas he bats in the middle order for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.

Although 15 was taken from the last over of the Powerplay, Klinger and Ian Cockbain were unable to truly break free. The closest they came to doing so was when Cockbain swatted a short ball bowled by Gregory straight down the ground for six. Unfazed, Gregory banged the following ball in halfway down the pitch and Cockbain, unable to get on top of it, was caught well in the deep.Waller’s superb spell of 4-0-21-1 kept Gloucestershire down in the middle overs. Delivering a plethora of googlies, which cramped the batsmen for room, and varying his pace and angles expertly, Waller broke Gloucestershire’s rhythm, and deserved more than just the one wicket he took when Geraint Jones top-edged a slog sweep high in the air.Waller’s pressure no doubt contributed to the downfall of Klinger, who was dismissed by Allenby for 44 when he was caught on the boundary off a low full toss. When Kieran Noema-Barnett fell for 6, Gloucestershire were 115 for 5 with just 27 deliveries remaining.However,three sixes, two fours, and some frantic running from Gloucestershire’s lower order squeezed an impressive 42 from the final 18 deliveries to elevate the home side to 165 for 8, a score that was perhaps a tad under par but certainly defendable.Somerset were without Chris Gayle, now at the Caribbean Premier League, and Marcus Trescothick, who was officially rested, but the lack of star-quality made little difference to events as Allenby launched into some loose bowling early on, plundering six boundaries in his 27.It is to Gloucestershire’s credit that they never let things run out of control, with the required run rate remaining above seven and climbing steadily from the 11th over until the 18th. Spinners Tom Smith and Jack Taylor both bowled excellently, conceding no more than six runs per over. Like Somerset, they bowled very straight and relatively flat.Myburgh, a small man, was inconspicuous as Allenby muscled the ball away in the Powerplay, but his innings proved pivotal – no other Somerset batsman managed more than 27. Wickets fell at regular intervals but Myburgh remained until as late as the 18th over when he was brilliantly caught by Handscomb. A lively crowd rose once again to fever pitch as they sensed the possibility of a late and dramatic shift but it never came as Somerset claimed a deserved victory.

India’s limited-overs captain MS Dhoni has all but ruled himself out of batting up the order in the upcoming Asia Cup and as well as the subsequent World T20, starting March 8

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-20162:22

MS Dhoni: “l will try to give everybody a game because it is something as important as playing with a settled team.”

India’s limited-overs captain MS Dhoni has all but ruled himself out of batting up the order in the upcoming Asia Cup T20 and World Twenty20, starting March 8. Ahead of the team’s departure to Bangladesh, Dhoni backed a stable, in-form, top order, and said that he would consider promoting a big-hitter instead of himself if there was a big partnership at the top.”It is very difficult. In a normal scenario, I don’t see myself batting up the order because of the batting line we have got,” Dhoni said.This is a departure from Dhoni’s recent preference of batting at No.4, though in a different format. Dhoni had batted at No.4 in the second ODI against Bangladesh last year in Mirpur, for the first time since July 2012. Dhoni showed glimpses of his best form during the course of his 47, and later said: “I would like to bat slightly up in the order so I can play a bit more freely.”Ashish Nehra on…

Staging a comeback: “It is very difficult to make a comeback. I’ve always said comebacks are much more difficult than a debut. Even when I was out, injury or no injury, I always trained to play pressure cricket, not just domestic cricket. If you look to play only domestic cricket, you’ll realise that you are even out from that in six months to a year. If you have to bowl 10 balls in the ground, you have to bowl 30-40 balls at the nets. In the end, I got my result”.
Adjusting to the requirements of T20 bowling: “IPL has been a great help for us to play in the T20 format. I know my job and I’ve got experience to do all these things [bowling one-over spells]. The more you play, the better you get. I’ve learnt more than double in the last 3-4 years than the 13-14 years before that.”
Spearheading the bowling:”I don’t believe in that. In the end, it’s not that I can’t have a bad day. Everybody shares the same job. Being the senior bowler, I’ve got so much experience so on the field and off the field, I always try to talk to Hardik [Pandya] or [Jasprit] Bumrah. The team management has asked me to do that as well but I’m happy to take that job.”

Since that match, Dhoni has batted four times at No.4 in ODIs, scoring 134 runs.Dhoni, however, explained that the T20 batting line-up was settled, with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma opening; Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh form the middle order. Dhawan got bright starts against Australia in the T20s in Melbourne and Sydney and then set up India’s win against Sri Lanka in the second T20 in Ranchi with a rapid fifty, his first in T20 internationals. Rohit, on his part, hit back-to-back fifties in Melbourne and Sydney, before making 43 in Ranchi. Kohli stroked three successive fifties in Australia, tallying 199 runs in the three-match T20 series, before being rested for the Sri Lanka T20s. From the middle order, Raina and Yuvraj helped India seal a clean sweep against Australia in Sydney with an unbroken 53-run partnership in a tight finish.”Virat, he is at 3, Raina at 4, Yuvraj Singh at 5, I am 6, Jadeja, Hardik. We may try [a promotion] if there is good partnership; we may try one of the hitters to go up and express maybe from the very first ball,” Dhoni said. “But whether I see myself getting that promotion, I think it will be slightly difficult.”Dhoni also dismissed concerns about the No.6 and No.7 batting positions, feeling that they would not have much to do, especially if the top order clicked.”As of now it [No.6 and No.7] doesn’t seem like [a problem]. Usually six and seven won’t or should not get an opportunity. If the team is doing well, I don’t think No.6 and No.7 will or should get more than 10 balls or 12 balls and you will have to make the most,” he said.Dhoni said he was keen to “give everybody a game”‘ ahead of the World T20. India named the same team for all three matches in the recent home series against Sri Lanka. It meant Pawan Negi, a left-field selection for the Asia Cup and the World T20, has not played an international game yet.”I will try to give everybody a game because it is something as important as playing with a settled team,” Dhoni said. “It is important for everybody to have games under their belt. Against few of the sides we will really be able to give games to few of the other players who are part of the team but have not got a chance to play so far but still we will look to win games and that’s our top priority but the conditions will allow us to give a few games to others who have not played.”

Billy Godleman takes over the captaincy in the Championship of a Derbyshire side who must learn to live without Mark Footitt

David Hopps29-Mar-2016Elite performance director: Graeme Welch
Captain: Billy Godleman (Championship), Wes Durston (limited-overs)
Last season

In: Andy Carter (Nottinghamshire), Tom Milnes (Warwickshire), Neil Broom (UK passport)
Out: Mark Footitt (Surrey), Wayne White (Leicestershire), Jonathan Clare (released)
Overseas: Hamish Rutherford, James Neesham (T20)
2015 in a nutshell
The arrival of Graeme Welch as elite performance director encouraged much optimism last season, but Derbyshire rarely lived up to it. Mark Footitt was the outstanding bowler in Division Two of the Championship for the second successive season, but an inexperienced squad had little else to celebrate. Wayne Madsen and Billy Godleman, captains old and new, delivered with the bat, but Shiv Thakor disappointed.2016 prospects
How to replace Footitt, who has decamped to Surrey, is Derbyshire’s first challenge. Welch has raided his former club, Warwickshire, for Tom Milnes; Andy Carter – signed from Notts – has bags of ability but a poor fitness record; and Tom Taylor and Ben Cotton will look to continue their development. Hamish Rutherford can bring zip to the top order, and his fellow Kiwi Neil Broom has dusted off a dual passport at the age of 32. Youngsters such as Matt Critchley (see below) and Harvey Hosein, an excellent wicketkeeper who made a maiden first-class 50 last summer, should also progress. A Godleman captaincy – he has had his share of disciplinary problems – is intriguing.Key player
Derbyshire can probably assemble enough runs this season – particularly in the Championship – but replacing Footitt is a different matter. It would be a much easier task if Andy Carter stays fit. His wickets come well below 30, but he has managed only 29 first-class matches since his debut in 2009. A tall fast bowler, he is able to mix the short stuff and yorkers.Bright young thing
Matt Critchley was initially seen as a promising legspinner, but he made history when he became Derbyshire’s youngest first-class century maker with 137 against Northamptonshire last May. It was enough to bring him his first professional deal. Proof of developing legspin would also be enthusiastically received.ESPNcricinfo verdict
Derbyshire’s youngsters have the talent to kick on, but not enough to fill their impressive new media box or make a concerted challenge for honoursBet365 odds: Specsavers Championship, Div 2: 12/1; NatWest Blast n/a; Royal London Cup 40/1

Graham Ford, the Sri Lanka coach, believes the team’s seam attack has the experience and know-how to create an impact on the team’s tour of England

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-May-2016’Have to be patient with Thirimanne’

Aravinda de Silva, who was recently appointed consultant to Sri Lanka Cricket, has defended the selection of Lahiru Thirimanne in the Test squad. Thirimanne has averaged 19.26 across his 25 most recent Test innings, but the interim selection committee headed by de Silva has backed him to come good.
“There are certain players we have even found in the past, who take longer than another person to be successful,” de Silva said. “As an example, even Sanath Jayasuriya, if you go through his records, he was initially averaging very, very low. But we saw the potential in him and we stuck by him for a very long time, and we saw the fruits of that later.
“I think there are certain players we have to be patient with. I don’t think it’s fair when people criticise players like Thirimanne, because at the end of the day, we feel he has the potential, and the guys who are around him also feel that way.”

Though sometimes billed as a team in transition, 11 of the 17 Sri Lanka players on the flight to England featured in the 2014 tour there. The first-choice opening combination from that tour is expected to take guard again, even if there has been upheaval in the interim. Angelo Mathews is still captain and a linchpin in the top order. Rangana Herath remains the top spinner.Strangely, however, it is the pace battery that appears to provide Sri Lanka’s most vivid touchstone to the 2014 tour. Dhammika Prasad, Nuwan Pradeep and Shaminda Eranga had each played key roles in the victory at Headingley, and are in the squad again. Suranga Lakmal, who had played in the 2014 ODI series before sustaining an injury, is also there. The sole newbie among the five quicks is also perhaps the team’s most exciting talent, Dushmantha Chameera.Coach Graham Ford had finished up his first stint with Sri Lanka just as Eranga, Lakmal and Pradeep were beginning to deliver defining spells. In the first Test series of his second stint, he hopes to find the Test attack much improved by age and experience.”I think we’ve got a bowling group that’s grown into a useful attack,” Ford said ahead of the team’s departure from Colombo. “They’ve all experienced success in English conditions. I’m quietly confident that they’ll be able to work together and create pressure in English conditions.”I hope they’ve improved because they’ve played a lot of Test cricket since my first stint. I did feel that when I was here previously, quite a lot of them were learning the art of fast bowling. Some of them were still fairly raw. They’ve now played a lot more cricket, and I’m sure they’re more streetwise.”Eranga and Lakmal have largely been laid low with injury in 2015, but the likes of Prasad, Pradeep and Chameera have prospered – both on increasingly seamer-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka and on tours to New Zealand in successive summers. Prasad has been particularly impressive, taking 41 wickets at an average of 24.95 in 2015. His transformation into a leader in the seam attack began in England, when he claimed five wickets in the second-innings surge to victory at Headingley.”Some of the quicks have had good success in England – they know the kind of lengths they’ve got to bowl,” Ford said. “It is going to be crucial that they find the right length on each particular surface when we get into the Test matches. Those lengths might vary slightly. It’ll be about assessing very quickly what’s the right length. I think they’re much more mature as cricketers.”Ford said the greatest challenge lay with Sri Lanka’s relatively young batting group, which has repeatedly faltered in the past year. There was a 2-0 victory against West Indies at home in October, but Sri Lanka lost the other four Test series they played last year. On each of those occasions, the batting had been the weaker of Sri Lanka’s disciplines.”In our batting group, having lost a couple of senior players, there are some new young guys who have come in,” Ford said. “They’ve worked extremely hard in the last few weeks. We’ve been fortunate enough in Colombo to train on some pitches that are similar to what we’re likely to get in England. That’s been pleasing to see how those younger players have been adapting to those conditions. Of course it’s going to be a huge mental challenge for them, because it is going to be about grinding out big hundreds. A lot of that comes from having done it and experience.”Sri Lanka play two three-day practice matches, at Chelmsford and Leicester, before the Tests begin on May 19. Unlike in the 2014 tour, when the limited-overs cricket took place first, Sri Lanka will play in two of England’s coldest Test venues in May, when they go to Leeds and Durham for the first two matches.”Any team going to England in the early summer finds it hard,” Ford said. “Especially coming from the subcontinent, it’s more of an adjustment. As has been documented, it is a team in transition, so some extra challenges probably face us. But it is exciting anyway to see how the young lads step up, and to see whether they’re up for international cricket and whether they want to be international cricketers for a long period of time.”A lot of it is about the mental strength. In foreign conditions, different things are going on – crowd pressure, etc. We know that England will come hard at us and mental strength is important. I think there’s some opportunity for the cricketers to show us that they are tough. In days gone by, that is what people admired about Sri Lankan cricket – they said the players were so tough mentally. Maybe there are a few question marks about that now, and it’s time for us to start putting that right.”

Jose Mourinho has vowed to spend big on improving his backline this summer, but who are the defenders he could realistically get hold of?

Getty ImagesRaphael Varane (Real Madrid)Mourinho has previously taken the credit for bringing through Varane at Real Madrid and remains an admirer of the France international. With the Blancos set for a summer overhaul, the 24-year-old could become available.AdvertisementGetty ImagesSamuel Umtiti (Barcelona)Continues to be linked with a move away from Camp Nou due to his relatively affordable release clause of €60 million. Manchester City were heavily linked before signing Aymeric Laporte.Getty ImagesToby Alderweireld (Tottenham)

Widely regarded as the best centre-back in the Premier League, the Belgium international is still to sign a new deal with Spurs.

That could lead to the north London outfit cashing in at the end of the current campaign, with the Belgium international available for a poultry £25m come the summer of 2019 as per the terms of his release clause.

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Getty ImagesMilan Skriniar (Inter)

Linked with Real Madrid, Barcelona and United, the 23-year-old has impressed for the Nerazzurri this season since joining from Sampdoria last summer.

The Serie A outfit have already rejected bids for the Slovakia international and he looks set to be one of Europe's hottest properties come the end of the season.

Kevin De Bruyne has claimed the first official award for most assists in a season, but who were the players who previously set the standard?

The Premier League Playmaker award is a new individual accolade given out to the player who has provided the most assists through the season.

It joins the Golden Boot and Golden Glove as honours for individual recognition, with the inaugural award going to Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne .

But, if the award had been in existence for the entirety of the Premier League era, who would have been the winners? Here, Goal takes a look.

Getty Images1992-93 | Eric Cantona (16 assists)

Eric Cantona would have won the playmaker award in the inaugural Premier League season. The United number seven assisted 16 times, as well as scoring 20 in in 42 appearances for both Leeds and the Red Devils.

United won the league that season for the first time in 26 years and the addition of Cantona in November was seen as the driving force towards that first title win. 

AdvertisementGetty Images1993-94 | Andy Cole (13 assists)

A player not many people associate with assists because he was such a prolific goalscorer. In Andy Cole’s first Premier League season he set a record for the number of goals scored in a season with 34, and he would have been the first double winner of the Golden Boot and the Playmaker prize if the award had existed at the time.

Cole’s assists were not elegant through balls or crosses that you would see from many conventional playmakers but his hold-up play and lay-offs contributed to an assists tally which stood at 13 by the end of the season.

Getty Images1994-95 | Matt Le Tissier (15 assists)

Known as ‘Le God’ to Southampton fans, Le Tissier assisted 15 times in the 1994-95 season.

Le Tissier also took on the brunt of goal scoring responsibilities at The Dell during that season, netting 19 times in 41 outings.

Le Tissier contributed to 34 goals that season as Southampton finished comfortably in mid-table.

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Getty Images1996-96 | Steve McManaman (15 assists)

Steve McManaman assisted 15 times in the 1995-96 season as Liverpool finished third.

McManaman enjoyed a productive season being able to supply Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore, who both hit double figures for the season.

McManaman’s form also earned him a place in England’s Euro 96 squad and he received praise from Pele, who called him ‘one of the best players in Europe’.

The Blues could blood some of their top academy talents in the final week of the season as they bid to avoid losing more homegrown youngsters

Despite their late-season struggles, Chelsea's place in the Champions League for next season is now secure.

Arsenal's defeat at Newcastle on Monday assured Thomas Tuchel's side of a place among Europe's elite for 2022-23, and with new ownership on the horizon, summer plans can finally be firmed up.

There are still two Premier League games to go, however, with Leicester City and Watford visiting Stamford Bridge on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.

Tuchel will be keen to ensure his side finish third rather than fourth, but with the pressure mostly off, the German coach has now been given a chance to get a full look at his squad options in the final matches of the campaign.

With a host of players set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, this feels like the ideal opportunity to blood some youngsters, allowing Tuchel to get a taste of what they could offer him next term.

There have been growing concerns among the Chelsea fanbase over the pathway from the club's famed academy to the first team, with a host of academy stars having left the club in the past couple of years.

The success of Marc Guehi and Tino Livramento after departing the Blues in the summer of 2021 has brought this into sharper focus, and so playing some teenage talents now could work both ways for Chelsea going forward.

It would allow Tuchel to get a proper look at what the academy has to offer, while showing those talents that the road to the Chelsea first team still exists.

But who are the candidates to potentially play over the next four days and into pre-season? GOAL has the answer…

Getty ImagesHarvey Vale

Vale is currently the frontrunner to win Chelsea's Academy Player of the Year award, following in the footsteps of the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James, Conor Gallagher and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The versatile forward, who can also play at wing-back or in midfield, has been given more first-team opportunities by Tuchel than any other academy player this season, appearing for a total of 131 minutes in domestic cup competitions.

With nine goals and five assists at age-group level this season, the 18-year-old has been a leader for both the Under-23s and U18s.

There is also an extra incentive for Tuchel to use Vale, with the England youth international having just one year left on his current contract, and first-team opportunities likely to be a sticking point when negotiations over a fresh deal begin.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLewis Hall

At just 17, Hall rose to prominence after starring in Chelsea's 5-1 FA Cup third-round win over National League side Chesterfield in January.

A natural midfielder, the teenager actually played at centre back, but still ended the match with an assist after playing 90 full minutes.

Since then, Hall has dropped back down to youth level, racking up close to 40 appearances in all competitions in a season that has seen him play all the way down with the U16s as well as with the senior side.

Another appearance at that level in a more favourable position could, then, be a just reward for a player who those at Cobham say has developed far more quickly than they could have imagined.

Getty ImagesCharlie Webster

Webster is regarded as being the great entertainer of the Chelsea academy, combining his agility and balance with wonderful ball-striking technique that has led to him producing stunning passes and a series of long-range goals.

One of the highest earners in the Blues' youth system, much was expected of the 18-year-old this season, but like many, he began the year without the required level of consistency. 

In the past few months, however, he has rediscovered his form, and played a key role in the clubs U23s avoiding relegation from Division One of Premier League 2.

Tuchel was in attendance to see Webster shine in the Blues' final-day win over Tottenham that secured their survival and could look to reward Webster for realising his potential, having not yet given him a senior debut.  

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Getty ImagesXavier Simons

Xavier Simons already has one senior appearance to his name, after he started December's Carabao Cup win over Brentford amid a Covid-19 outbreak at Chelsea.

Playing slightly out of position at right wing-back, the Cobham starlet did well when facing the club he was originally signed from in 2016.

Another appearance may be on the cards in the coming days, though the 19-year-old's contract situation is likely to work against him.

Simons is now expected to leave Chelsea this summer with his current deal into its final weeks, with Southampton, Brighton, Norwich City and Watford all in the running to sign him on a free transfer.

GOAL parades the local-based coaches who have won the continental title after the Teranga Lions beat Egypt on Sunday

BackpagePix.Who has won the title?

Senegal, led by coach Aliou Cisse, finally laid their hands on the Africa Cup of Nations title after defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the final at Olembe Stadium in Cameroon on Sunday.

It was Liverpool forward Sadio Mane who struck the decisive penalty to hand the Lions of Teranga the title after 16 appearances at the continental finals, against seven-time winners the Pharaohs.

The feat saw former player Cisse, who captained the side at the 2002 World Cup, join the list of local coaches to have won the Afcon title.

Below GOAL parades the other local coaches to have achieved the feat with their respective national teams.

Advertisement2006: Hassan Shehata – Egypt

Shehata became Egypt coach in 2004 after the sacking of Italian coach Marco Tardelli and he went on to clinch the 2006 edition held in Cairo. The Pharaohs were pooled in Group A alongside Ivory Coast, Morocco, and Libya.

Egypt topped their group with seven points and qualified alongside the Elephants, who had six, and in the quarter-finals, they came up against the Democratic Republic of Congo whom they beat 4-1. In the semi-finals, they floored Senegal 2-1.

In the final, they clinched the title for the fifth time by beating Ivory Coast 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 result in regulation time.

getty2008: Hassan Shehata – Egypt

The 72-year-old Shehata was in charge again as the Pharaohs headed for the 2008 Afcon edition in Ghana where they had been pooled in Group C alongside Cameroon, Zambia, and Sudan.

The Pharaohs qualified as group winners alongside the Indomitable Lions and they were drawn to face Angola in the quarter-final, a game they won 2-1 to reach the semis. In the last four, they came up against Ivory Coast and won 4-1.

They eventually won their second straight title, but their sixth overall, after beating Cameroon 1-0 in the final at Accra Sports Stadium.

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Goal Kenya.2010: Hassan Shehata – Egypt

The 2010 edition was held in Angola and Egypt found themselves in Group C alongside Nigeria, Benin, and Mozambique. Under Shehata, the Pharaohs once again emerged as winners of the group followed by the Super Eagles.

They were drawn to face Cameroon in the quarter-finals and they won the game 3-1 after extra time. In the semis, they came up against Algeria whom they thumped 4-0.

In the final, they beat Ghana’s Black Stars 1-0 courtesy of Mohamed Nagy’s effort to clinch the tournament, their seventh Afcon title, and an unprecedented third in a row.

The Dutchman has made a positive start to his tenure but ruthless decisions will have to be taken to improve an inconsistent side…

Ahead of Thursday's League Cup clash with Aston Villa, it came as no surprise to hear Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag talk about his hopes of repairing the relationship between the club and its long-suffering supporters.

Frustration remains the overriding feeling among the fans who have seen their side suffer a dramatic decline since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Progress is undoubtedly being made under Ten Hag, who took over during the summer, after United's worst-ever Premier League finish.

But there's no denying that United have played only in fits and starts this season.

A four-game winning streak that included the scalps of Liverpool and Arsenal was ended when they were thrashed 6-3 in the Manchester derby, and morale-boosting victories over Everton and Tottenham were followed up with disappointing draws against Newcastle and Chelsea.

The players showed plenty of grit in the subsequent 1-0 win over West Ham only to then turn in a dreadful performance in last weekend's loss at Aston Villa that Ten Hag admitted was "not acceptable".

It's clear, then, that ruthless decisions must be made if United are to achieve their twin objectives for the current campaign: ending their five-year trophy drought, and securing a return to the Champions League.

GOAL runs through their five main problems below…

GettyGet rid of Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo's punishment for sulking off early against Tottenham should have marked the end of his United career.

Ten Hag initially appeared to have handled the situation perfectly, dropping the 37-year-old for the subsequent 1-1 draw against Chelsea, but the Dutchman failed to stick to his guns.

Ronaldo has started four games in a row since then, including the defeat at Villa. He has only managed to score once, in the 3-0 home win over Europa League minnows Sheriff, and has looked a shadow of the man that terrorised defences for fun during his first stint at United and nine-year spell at Real Madrid.

Against Villa, the Portuguese striker recorded just 25 touches and one shot on target, a point-blank header that he should have buried. His only noteworthy contribution came in the form of a grappling match with Tyrone Mings after Jacob Ramsey had put the hosts 3-1 up.

Ronaldo was inexplicably handed the captain's armband for the clash, and certainly did not lead by example with his behaviour or performance. He is a hindrance to this United side, not a help, and they simply will not progress if he continues to enjoy such a prominent role.

Ten Hag threw the veteran forward a bone when he didn't deserve it, and the decision has backfired. The United boss must now re-affirm his authority by making sure Ronaldo is either sold or released in January, which would give him the room to really kick-start his long-term project.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesMake Bruno captain

Harry Maguire is still United's official club captain, despite having only appeared in four Premier League matches so far in 2022-23.

The England defender was benched in favour of Lindelof against Villa, which again showed that he doesn't enjoy Ten Hag's full trust.

De Gea should have taken up vice-captaincy duties at Villa Park rather than Ronaldo, due to his standing as the most senior member of the squad in terms of appearances and Varane's continued absence, but Fernandes has worn the armband for the majority of the campaign.

The Portugal international's goals and assists output may have dropped since his first full season at Old Trafford, but he remains their creative hub and the player who takes on the most responsibility from game to game.

Fernandes directs his team-mates with and without the ball, and is seemingly the biggest advocate of Ten Hag's pressing philosophy as he often posts the highest numbers for distance covered per 90 minutes.

Off the pitch, he faces up to the media in a refreshingly candid fashion and appears to be one of the most popular and respected members of the squad, just like all of the very best captains in United's history.

Maguire has never felt like the right fit for the armband, and the sooner Fernandes assumes the responsibility in an official capacity, the better.

GettyIncrease the strength in depth

United knew they were in for a tough season after qualifying for the Europa League, and they made life even more difficult for themselves by failing to finish top of their group.

Two games against Barcelona now await in February, and the Premier League were already struggling to find any room for United's postponed fixtures against Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

One possible solution could see them playing a Friday-Monday-Thursday-Sunday schedule between European rounds, which would stretch Ten Hag's squad to the absolute limit.

The Villa game should serve as solid evidence that United won't cope unless they bolster their ranks in the winter transfer window.

Victor Lindelof was bullied all afternoon after filling in for the injured Raphael Varane and Donny van de Beek proved to be completely ineffective after being selected to fill the void left by the suspended Bruno Fernandes.

Antony was also carrying a knock, and so Marcus Rashford was forced into the unnatural right-wing role that he struggled in for much of last season.

United need two or three new signings to reduce the risk of further setbacks as Ten Hag will have no choice but to rotate more frequently in the new year.

However, it remains to be seen how much backing he will be given after a summer outlay of over £220 million ($250m).

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GettySign a new No.9

United's improvements in general play under Ten Hag have been undermined by a lack of clinical edge in the final third of the pitch.

Indeed, Manchester City's prolific Norwegian Erling Haaland has scored as many goals (18) as United have managed as a collective in their first 13 Premier League outings this term.

Rashford has been handed a central striker role more often than not, but always ends up drifting to his favoured position on the left, while Anthony Martial has once again struggled to stay fit consistently since returning from a loan spell at Sevilla.

Beyond Ronaldo, whose powers are now all but gone, United do not have a natural No.9 to call upon, and its costing them week after week.

Ten Hag has transformed United into a more fluid, dynamic attacking outfit, with a forward-thinking philosophy based around quick passing interchanges delivering chances in abundance, but they are not being converted.

The powers that be at Old Trafford should be prioritising the signing of a new forward in January, with it reported that Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Lille forward Jonathan David could both be available for the right price.