Spanning ten rounds, the Regional Four-Day Championship will have six regional franchises playing each other home and away, and West Indies’ selectors are on the look out for talent

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2017Consistent batsmen and fast bowlers clocking more than 80mph are on the West Indies selectors’ wish list when the Regional Four-Day Championship begins on October 26.”Finding a few consistent batsmen is important, but what is also key for us is to unearth some young fast bowlers, so that we can add to the pool that we currently have, especially players that can clock in the high 80 to 90 mph range,” Courtney Browne, chairman of the Cricket West Indies selection panel, said. “So this upcoming regional season is key for players. There is an upcoming tour to the Caribbean by the England Lions early next year and such a high-profile ‘A’ Team tour has not happened in a number of years. It is where our players can showcase their talent and we can identify players for selection to our ‘A’ Team.”Spanning ten rounds, the Regional Four-Day Championship will have six regional franchises playing each other home and away. The teams are: Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, Trinidad & Tobago Red Force and Windward Islands Volcanoes.Browne urged the players to focus on fitness and consistency in performance, should they harbour hopes of retaining their place, or breaking into, the West Indies side.”We would also like to urge players to work on their fitness and aim at achieving the fitness levels expected as our international teams have ramped up their fitness and conditioning work,” Browne said. “There are cases where players do perform and may not make it into the senior team as quickly as persons expect.”If there are players in the senior team that are already there, they have to be given a full opportunity and the emerging player will have to wait a bit longer than usual, rather than the chopping and changing approach. But we would urge them to continue to strive for consistency and show it over a longer period and not a one-off performance.”The tournament will be played in three phases – from October 26 to January 21 – with all matches starting on a Thursday. Six matches will be played with a pink ball under lights.”As selectors, we are happy with the length of the season,” Browne said. “We believe 10 matches in the #D4Day [the four-day championship] is a good yardstick for the players and for us.”

Important to focus and not let change in batting positions affect game, says India batsman

Akshay Gopalakrishnan in Alur09-Nov-2017

Mayank Agarwal’s classy century against Delhi on Thursday may have made him the star on most days. But for the few hundreds that gathered at the KSCA ground in Alur, Manish Pandey was all the rage. The Karnataka batsman was the sole recipient of applause from a clamouring crowd as he walked out to bat. Later, when a few members of the team cooled down with a light football session at the end of day’s play, Pandey was the centre of all attention again. It didn’t seem to matter that a few other heroes, who have also played for India, were in closer vicinity, jogging around by the boundary.This popularity of Pandey isn’t newfound, but it has certainly surged since he’s become a part of India’s limited-overs squad. Coming from the same batch of India Under-19s as Virat Kohli, Pandey hasn’t had the same opportunities or exposure at the senior level. He’s had to bide his time despite consistent scores in domestic cricket. His rise hasn’t been meteoric, but he’s still a popular player.Now, over two years since his international debut, Pandey is still fighting to nail a permanent spot. Constant changes to his batting position haven’t made the process easy. An average of 43 and strike-rate of 95 suggests there’s ability and potential, but it hasn’t always been enough. There’s been competition in the form of Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul, his good friend and Karnataka team-mate. That is perhaps why every opportunity he gets at any level of competitive cricket is a blessing at this stage of his career.Barely a few hours after turning up for India in a T20 international against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram, Pandey hopped onto a flight to Bangalore and drove to Alur, on the outskirts of the city, to join his Karnataka mates ahead of a crucial Ranji Trophy game. The batsmen who preceded him had set it up nicely. The sunshine had eased out whatever moisture there was on the surface, and Delhi’s bowlers were tiring. Pandey walked in and stroked a half-century, the significance of which was magnified by the presence of MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors. After a punchy 74, Pandey acknowledged it was important to not let the bar drop.”It’s a completely different ball game [playing four-day cricket as compared to the limited-overs formats], you know,” he said. “I had more time to settle down and play my shots as the innings progressed. It’ll be important for me to continue batting like this and have fun.”It was quite easy. The plan was to come at No. 4, but with the jet lag and stuff like that, I came in at No. 5. I have been playing a lot of ODI and T20, which obviously starts in the later part of the day. It was good to come back and play Ranji Trophy cricket for Karnataka. It was amazing to see the boys again. The partnership before definitely helped.”Pandey had a rousing start to his one-day career, with a half-century against Zimbabwe in Harare. Three games later, he blitzed a match-winning century against Australia in Sydney. A middling series against New Zealand cost him his place, and it took nearly a year for him to get a chance again, after a highly successful series with the India A team in South Africa.Pandey announced his return with an unbeaten half-century in a crushing 168-run win over Sri Lanka. Since then, he has floated between Nos. 4 and 6, not remaining in the same position for more than three games in a row. It also hasn’t helped that he returned with two single-digit scores in the three innings that he batted at No. 4. With India still in the hunt for a permanent fix to the No. 4 spot, those were costly lapses.Pandey’s game is well-suited to the position as he has the wherewithal to play the big shots as well as build an innings, like he showed in that Sydney hundred against Australia. However, being denied the luxury of settling into a position has made the bid harder.”I didn’t think about international cricket or the memories from before. I only thought about Karnataka cricket and my batting today,” he said. “I was looking forward to play this game. It is a little difficult to adapt, but I think I have done this for a long time. It’s a part of the game where the team wants you to play No. 4 or 5 or 6, and it’ll be important for me to stay focussed and keep waiting for the call-up.”Pandey last played a first-class match in December last year, when Karnataka conceded the quarterfinal of the previous season’s Ranji Trophy to Tamil Nadu inside two days. Given how heavily involved he has been in limited-overs cricket in that time, the pace at which Pandey struck his runs on Thursday perhaps wasn’t entirely surprising. But he denied any conscious effort in tweaking his game.”You don’t look to score a boundary every ball, but I look to score a single every ball, be a little aggressive. Even if it’s a defence, the intention is to be aggressive. Because of a lot of T20 cricket that is happening, cricket has changed in such a way that batsmen want to score runs and score boundaries. In a way, that’s really good for cricket where it’s looking good from the outside. I think we should just focus on getting runs.”

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has stated that it may take "weeks" for Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro to return to action.

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• Casemiro and Martinez not ready to return
• Have started training with the team
• Hojlund will return against Wigan Athletic

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Casemiro has missed the previous two months due to a hamstring issue, while Martinez has not played since September due to a recurrence of a foot ailment that was first sustained in April. Though Ten Hag stated they are not yet prepared to return to action, both have now resumed their training and were seen last week at Carrington. Rasmus Hojlund, on the other hand, will be eligible for the Red Devils' matchup with Wigan Athletic, according to the Dutchman.

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• WHAT TEN HAG SAID

  Talking at a pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said [via ESPN]: "They [Casemiro and Martinez] are a long time already back on the grass and now they return back into team training but not fully, so partial. Now they have to make the next steps and that may take some days, I think even weeks.

  "He [Hojlund] will return. He dropped out shortly before the game [against Forest] and so he was a little bit unwell before the game. The day before we expected him to play and then he dropped out shortly before the game but he is back in training."

• (C)Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Hojlund has struggled so far in the league as the Dane has only managed to score once in 15 appearances so far, which came in his last game for the Red Devils. Casemiro and Martinez have missed the majority of the season, which has come at the cost of the Red Devils' exit from the Champions League and a rather underwhelming season in the league.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  United will be in action later today when they take on Championship side Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup. Hojlund may start the game as he will look to hit the ground running and build up some steam against a considerably weaker opposition.

Arsenal have a long and illustrious history littered with silverware, but the truly elite honours have eluded them for some time now. Mikel Arteta is clearly seeking to ensure that this summer finally gives them the chance to challenge once again at the pinnacle of English football, and they seem far from finished with their dealings.

Is Marc Guehi leaving Crystal Palace?

With Declan Rice the outstanding acquisition from this window, his big-money move perhaps overshadows the equally important signings of Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber. All three of these combine to give the Gunners a massive boost with regard to their depth, which was sorely needed.

However, rumours continue to circulate despite these improvements, suggesting that sporting director Edu Gaspar is still very much incensed when it comes to tempting new faces to the Emirates.

One such report that remains, despite emerging in May, did suggest that Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi remained a viable option for the north London club.

Although his £50m price tag could provide a stumbling block, signing the England international could prove a remarkable coup for a side seeking to cultivate a youth-focused squad with the talent to challenge for those top titles now and long into the future.

How good is Marc Guehi?

During the early years of Arsene Wenger's reign, despite claiming the Premier League title in just his second season, he had suffered many near-misses in the pursuit of domination.

Between 1998 and 2001, the Frenchman led his squad to three consecutive second-placed finishes, failing to take that next step to truly achieve greatness.

That was until he signed Sol Campbell.

It was noted in the English defender's biography [Sol Campbell – The Authorised Biography, pg. 106] that he was signed on the claims of Wenger, who noted: "It was as if he was indestructible, such a power spread from him."

He was tall, powerful, fast and menacing, yet had a touch of class; he would propel the Gunners to stardom.

TheScore served to supplement such a notion, writing the following review on the 48-year-old after ranking him as the 11th-best player of the legendary manager's reign: "Sol Campbell is the epitome of an athletic centre-back, whose robust frame and barrel chest hid the fact that he was sublime on the ball."

His first year after moving from Tottenham Hotspur saw him win the Premier League title, and two years later he would be ever-present during their Invincibles run. His acquisition proved to be a catalyst, and in Guehi, they could repeat this feat.

He too boasts many of the physical qualities that made Campbell so revered, alongside a passing range that mirrors the legendary centre-back's. After all, his England U21 teammate Josef Bursik branded him an "absolute tank" back in 2021.

Just last season saw him maintain a 6,94 average rating in the league, with that figure largely upheld by his 85% pass accuracy, 82% dribble success, 1.4 tackles and 3.6 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

His ability to remove danger from his own penalty area would have seen him ranked first among Arsenal's squad last season.

With his bulky frame and speed off the mark, he can stride out from the back to then find a teammate.

Should things then go wrong, he boasts the raw pace to return back in position to thwart opposition attacks.

Guehi is the quintessential modern-day centre-back and could help take Arteta's side to the next level, should Edu manage to lure him across the capital this summer.

Having also finished second last campaign, the Spaniard will be seeking the edge that can help them overtake Manchester City.

Perhaps, given just how similar Guehi is to Campbell, he could prove to have a similarly revolutionary effect that propels them to a league title in his first year upon joining.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained why he substituted Kobbie Mainoo at half time against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

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Ten Hag explains Mainoo's substitutionMcTominay replaced Mainoo at half timeUnited went down 2-1 against ForestWHAT HAPPENED?

The youngster made it to Ten Hag's starting lineup against Nottingham Forest on Saturday but was subbed off at half-time as the Dutch manager brought in Scott McTominay in midfield. The United manager later confirmed in a press conference that Mainoo did not suffer an injury, and his removal from the pitch was a tactical call for which he has "no regrets". Ten Hag's decision was met with general confusion amongst fans and pundits alike, as the teenager was one of his side's brighter sparks.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT TEN HAG SAID

Speaking to reporters after the game, the Dutchman explained why he introduced McTominay in place of Mainoo in the second half. He said, "Scott [McTominay] brought energy, I think the second half was much better on our side. The first goal, when you analyse it well, has nothing to do with the midfield. The second goal came from poor communication."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Red Devils ended 2023 on a depressing note as they suffered their ninth defeat of the ongoing Premier League season. Forest took the lead with Nicolas Dominguez's strike in the 64th minute before Marcus Rashford brought his team back into the game for a brief period. Morgan Gibbs-White then scored the winner in the 82nd minute to seal a memorable win for the hosts.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

Ten Hag's side's first game of the new year is an FA Cup third-round clash against Wigan Athletic on January 8, before they take on Tottenham in their first league game of 2024 on January 14.

Arsenal seem to have shifted their transfer focus onto the future now, seeking to usher in the next generation of stars to help prolong their expected presence atop English football.

Who are Arsenal signing this summer?

With Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber bolstering the present and their future, already Mikel Arteta's is a squad much improved on last season's title disappointment.

The Gunners now have far more depth across the board and versatility that will allow them to maintain a charge for longer, pushing Manchester City even closer to the edge.

However, fresh reports are now suggesting that, despite their spending surpassing around £200m for the window, they still maintain the funds to continue battling for young gems. One such name is Josip Sutalo, who has starred in his homeland of late for Dinamo Zagreb.

It is noted by Italian outlet Firenze Viola that, whilst the north London outfit are waiting in the background, they do remain interested in his services. The Croatian side will seek to command a €25m (£21m) fee to sanction his exit.

Who is Josip Sutalo?

Despite being just 23 years old, the youngster already has 83 appearances for his current club and a further eight for his national team.

As a powerful, young, athletic defender, it is hard not to draw comparisons with his compatriot and possibly soon-to-be Cityzens star Josko Gvardiol.

The 21-year-old sensation has shot to stardom with his efforts for RB Leipzig, spurring Pep Guardiola to unload a world-record £86m fee for a defender. Last term in the Bundesliga he showcased his starring assets succinctly, as an outstanding left-footed ball-playing titan.

Maintaining a 6.96 average rating, his 89% pass accuracy fed into 1.1 interceptions and 2.3 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic even suggested he is the "best central defender in the world," explaining why: “He is so strong, confident and elegant at the same time, and does everything with incredible ease."

Funnily enough, these are traits that scout Jacek Kulig picked out when detailing Sutalo, as he described him as a: "complete & elegant CB".

Whilst in a far weaker league, the youngster still shone with key attributes that liken him to the man set to star for their Etihad rivals next campaign.

During a SuperSport HNL season where his side would claim the title, he recorded a 7.10 average rating, buoyed by his 93% pass accuracy, two interceptions and 1.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

That rating would have made him Arsenal's fifth-best player last term in the Premier League, with his ease in possession likely to excite the possession-focused Arteta.

Also, whilst he would only feature once in the recent World Cup, his exemplary defensive display against Japan suggested a pedigree that could help him translate his fine form in his homeland to the English game.

With five clearances and a 94% pass accuracy in that clash, it could be argued his levels even increased despite the tougher opposition faced.

Given he also stands at 6 foot 3, his physical assets support such a notion further.

With RB Leipzig reportedly also keen on signing Sutalo this summer, it seems that his similarities with Gvardiol are emphasised, as the German outfit view him as the direct replacement for their likely outgoing star.

Perhaps he could instead opt for an Emirates switch, to represent Arteta's alternative to Guardiola's new phenom, for a fraction of the price.

Tanbir Hayder struck 61 off 91 balls to rescue Bangladesh A from 114 for 6 and lead them to a three-wicket win over Ireland A in the second unofficial ODI in Cox’s Bazar

The Report by Mohammad Isam19-Oct-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Sunzamul Islam’s 4 for 33 helped Bangladesh A topple Ireland A for 195•Sportsfile via Getty Images

Tanbir Hayder’s patient 61 rescued Bangladesh A from 114 for 6 and led them to a three-wicket win over Ireland A in the second unofficial ODI in Cox’s Bazar. Coming into bat at No. 6 in Bangladesh A’s chase of 196, Hayder helped put together two crucial lower-order partnerships to ensure a 1-0 lead.Hayder added 42 runs for the seventh wicket with Sunzamul Islam (16), before Abul Hasan (10 not out) joined him for an unbroken 40-run, eighth wicket stand. Hayder consumed 91 balls for his 61, and struck eight fours. Bangladesh A won with 3.3 overs to spare.Abul, Sunzamul and Hayder also combined with the ball to take eight wickets in the first innings. Left-arm spinner Sunzamul took 4 for 33, while medium-pacer Abul returned 3 for 25. The visitors were bowled out for 195 runs in 48.1 overs.Several Ireland A batsman got starts, but the top score was Simi Singh’s 33, which featured three fours and a six.

In his book, Steven Smith revealed he was mystified by Virat Kohli’s accusations of DRS misuse during the Bengaluru Test earlier this year

Daniel Brettig26-Oct-20171:20

Smith on the India series’ DRS controversy

Steven Smith believes his opposite number Virat Kohli invented claims of systemic DRS abuse by the touring team as a form of gamesmanship during a this year’s Border-Gavaskar Test series, in which Australia’s captain also described the BCCI’s decision to release select stump microphone audio of verbal exchanges as “pretty ordinary”.In shedding light on the hot-tempered encounter between India and Australia earlier this year, where the unfancied visitors came exceptionally close to ending the hosts’ long unbeaten run on home territory, Smith revealed how he is to this day mystified by Kohli’s accusations, which were dropped and never again mentioned from the moment the series was decided. Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo – the full interview will run next week – Smith called the claims “rubbish”.Kohli’s accusations followed a moment amid the cauldron of Australia’s fourth-innings chase of a small target on a difficult pitch in the second Test in Bangalore, when victory would have granted Smith’s team an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series following their surprise win in the opener in Pune. When given out lbw to a shooter, Smith ran the decision past his batting partner Peter Handscomb, who instinctively motioned towards the team viewing area for advice – a move outlawed under DRS protocols. Smith, too, turned around, before being sent on his way by the umpire Nigel Llong.”It wasn’t until afterwards that I realised what a talking point it had become, fuelled by Kohli’s post-match claims that we’d called on off-field assistance twice earlier in the match to help our on-field deliberations,” Smith wrote in his book, . “As far as I was concerned, we’d never tried to consult with the dressing room beforehand and although he said he’d brought those previous occasions to the notice of the umpires, I can say categorically that we were never spoken to by either those umpires or match referee Chris Broad about any such breaches in protocol.”Virat has always been a player who’s thrived in the most intense of environments, and like me he loves a battle and I can only think it was his way of raising the temperature in the series in an attempt to get the best out of himself. The idea of getting messages from the sidelines for that purpose was not a tactic we as a team ever spoke about and … I can’t work out what he was referring to in his remarks.”There was never anything further on the matter from the ICC and Virat never detailed the incidents he was referring to. And during the brief interactions we had – including at the captain’s briefing for the IPL as that tournament followed the series – he was friendly and it was as if any ill-feeling he may have had over the incident had disappeared. It was and still is all a big mystery to me.”Getty ImagesSmith also remains annoyed by how the BCCI chose to highlight an exchange between Ravindra Jadeja and Matthew Wade during the decisive Dharamsala Test match, during a series in which there were many instances of heated discussion among opponents. Smith additionally pointed out that ICC regulations prohibit broadcasters from airing audio captured on stump microphones when the ball is dead.”It was an example of the banter that took place on the field, but it gave a very one-sided view of what was happening,” Smith wrote. “There would have been plenty of examples that could have been released of Indian players engaging with me and my team, such as when they were constantly in the ears of Matt Renshaw when he resumed his first innings in Pune having had to retire ill because of diarrhoea. Ian Gould asked Matthew and Ravindra to cut it out in Dharamsala and that was where it ended. So to rake it up in the way that it was benefited no-one.”What was overlooked in the minor controversy that followed was that, under ICC guidelines, the broadcaster shouldn’t have been broadcasting audio from the stump microphones, except for instances when the ball was in play, and it certainly wasn’t when Matthew and Ravindra were having their discussions. But whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, it was a timely reminder to players of both sides that the old adage of what happens on the field, stays on the field, no longer applies.”Looking more broadly at the on-field behaviour of the Australian side, Smith said he had no qualms about his team seeking a verbal edge over opponents when matches get tight. He also took issue with the perception that his team was “nice as pie” on the field when dominating a match and only went into verbal aggressor mode when things were not going their way.”I know there is a view that has us as the ugly Aussies and that although, when we are on top, we are all nice as pie on the field, when the opposition gets success against us then we are quick to get into them verbally, but I don’t see it like that,” he wrote. “It’s simply that, as a group of players, we don’t like backing down in a contest and the greater the intensity of the action on the field the more we all back each other up.”If that’s through the odd word with our opponents so be it. The umpires are there to step in if anything is out of order and I don’t think there was much, if anything, that fitted the bill through the series.”

Two flawed but fearsome attacking units will go head to head in a mouth-watering clash at Anfield on Saturday evening

Anfield endured a dreadful game of football last Sunday. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp even felt compelled to criticise some of his own fans for failing to make some noise. The atmosphere shouldn't be an issue this weekend, though, with Anfield set to play host to what is likely to be a thrilling encounter with top spot in the Premier League on the line.

Encouraginly, Liverpool have already rediscovered the goalscoring touch that deserted them against a painfully defensive Manchester United last weekend, with the resurgent Reds routing West Ham 5-1 on Wednesday night to progress to the last four of the Carabao Cup. As it stands, only two teams across Europe's 'Big Five' leagues have scored more goals in all competitions this season than Klopp's men (63).

As for Arsenal, the key to their ascent to the top of the Premier League has probably been summer signing Declan Rice, who has added steel, class and composure to their midfield. However, it's worth noting that the Gunners have only scored one goal fewer (35) than Liverpool in this season's top flight, meaning Saturday's showdown on Merseyside could well descend into a shootout between two flawed but fearsome forward lines.

But which side has the better attack? GOAL runs through – and rates – Liverpool and Arsenal's star men below…

Getty Mohamed Salah vs Bukayo Saka

Mohamed Salah (9.5/10):

The best player in Premier League history? Maybe not yet but he's not far off. At the very least, the Egyptian is the undisputed No.1 right now. No player has been directly involved in more league goals this season than Salah (18), who has scored 11 times himself. At 31 years of age, he's showing no signs of slowing down – thanks to his incredible dedication to his craft – and remains the standard by which all other wingers in England are measured.

Bukayo Saka (9/10):

The heir apparent to the Egyptian king's throne, Arsenal's homegrown hero has also emerged as a similarly talismanic figure at the Emirates. Saka is, by some distance, the Gunners' most potent -and reliable – attacking weapon. He still has to work on his finishing (Saka's shot conversion rate in the Premier League is 14 percent; Salah's is 21 percent) but the 22-year-old has racked up more assists (11) in all competitions than any other Premier League player so far this season – and the scary thing for Arsenal's opponents is, he's only going to get better.

AdvertisementGetty Darwin Nunez vs Gabriel Jesus

Darwin Nunez (7/10):

What on earth to make of the spectacularly unpredictable Uruguayan? At times, 'Captain Chaos' can look like a world-beater. At others, a complete no-hoper. Nunez showed what he's capable of with his match-winning cameo against Newcastle earlier this season and a subsequent good run of form established him as Klopp's first-choice No.9. However, there's absolutely no way he'd be starting now if Diogo Jota were fit. Nunez may have 14 goal contributions in all competitions but he hasn't scored in the Premier League since the end of October! The 24-year-old fan favourite remains a real handful because of his pace but it's becoming painfully clear that he's not prolific enough to spearhead a title-challenger.

Gabriel Jesus (7.5):

Somewhat similar to Nunez in that he's long been criticised for failing to score enough goals. He was meant to be Sergio Aguero's successor at Manchester City but ended up being deployed on the wing before eventually being allowed to leave. Still, despite his persistent fitness issues, Arsenal look a better side with Jesus leading the line and, in fairness to him, he's scored freely in the Champions League this season. However, it would be remiss not to mention that he's only been involved in four goals in the Premier League (five fewer than Nunez), which explains why Arsenal continue to be linked with other centre-forwards.

Getty Luis Diaz vs Gabriel Martinelli

Luis Diaz (7/10):

He's been an incredibly tough few months for Diaz, whose parents were kidnapped in Colombia at the tail end of November. It would be weeks before his father was released and yet Diaz still came off the bench to score a precious equaliser at Luton on November 5. The usually-electric winger hasn't scored in the league since and hasn't registered a single assist in all competitions. It's hard to avoid the feeling that the kidnapping nightmare his family endured has understandably taken a serious toll on Diaz.

Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):

Klopp has never hidden his admiration for the Brazilian, once describing Martinelli as "the talent of the century" after a League Cup clash at Anfield. He's just as highly rated at the Emirates, of course, but there's no denying that he's struggled to replicate his very best form of late. Martinelli has just two goals and two assists to his name in this season's Premier League – a disappointing return for a player that struck 15 times last term.

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Getty The understudies

Liverpool's bench (8/10):

The Reds are definitely missing Jota, who is arguably the most instinctive finisher at the club. The Portuguese, who can pretty much play anywhere across the forward line, had scored eight goals in all competitions before being sidelined by a muscular problem. The equally versatile Cody Gakpo has had his own injury issues this season and hasn't scored in the league since September, which is why he's lost his starting spot, but the Dutchman did bag his seventh of the season in midweek. Harvey Elliott was outstanding in that game against the Hammers, proving that he's not just a great impact sub – he can also do a fine job filling in for Salah on the right-hand side when required. Teenage winger Ben Doak should turn out to be even more suited to that role but the Scotland Under-21 star is presently sidelined.

Arsenal's bench (7.5/10):

Eddie Nketiah is perhaps not the world-class striker that the Gunners are reportedly looking for but he has always done a decent job when asked to fill in up front. It's also worth noting that he's got five league goals – as many as Jesus and Martinelli combined. Leandro Trossard, meanwhile, has three to his name and while he didn't really excel when asked to replace the injured Martinelli on the left flank, he remains a good option off the bench, particularly as he has a decent eye for a pass. Academy products Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson have sparkled for Arsenal in the past but manager Mikel Arteta no longer appears to have much faith in either of them.

Despite bolstering the ranks this summer, Newcastle United still look to be in the hunt for further midfield signings, and have identified Brazilian prospect Victor Hugo for transfer.

What's the latest on Victor Hugo to Newcastle?

That's according to Brazilian outlet Bola VIP, who claim that the midfield talent has left the Magpies enamoured after his performances in his homeland, with the Premier League outfit 'monitoring' his progress.

It's even believed that Eddie Howe's side will now look to invest in the dynamic midfielder, with a formal offer for the 19-year-old now said to be forthcoming.

Newcastle are expected to table a bid of €24m (£21m) for Hugo and expand the Brazilian core of their centre, with Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton already plying their trade at St. James's Park.

Who is Victor Hugo?

Guimaraes is not only Newcastle's starring Brazil international but one of the most impressive stars in the Premier League.

The magnitude of his arrival to orchestrate the long-awaited Tyneside renaissance cannot be understated, and each of his 57 appearances for United have succeeded in continuing the ascent since his £40m move from Lyon in January 2022.

His arrival coincided with the genesis of Newcastle's turnaround, just a few months on from the affluent PIF takeover and Howe's deployment in the managerial role, and he is now renowned as the centrepiece of the club's midfield, hailed as "magnificent" by Alan Shearer.

Hugo will hope to emulate his senior peer and utilise his own positional versatility, having played centrally in offensive and defensive roles this term – as well as occasional stints out wide.

Described as the "steering wheel" of his side for his sway over the Fluminense system by journalist Rodrigo Lima, Hugo might be in the early phase of his career but is already attracting attention for his performances.

As per Sofascore, the teenage talent has produced an average match rating of 6.98 in the Brazilian top-flight this year, scoring a goal and assist from 15 appearances (just five starts), completing 88% of his passes, forging 1.1 tackles per game, winning 63% of his ground duels and succeeding with 72% of his attempted dribbles.

He bears the emblem of prodigious talent and is a rising star with a variegated ability to allow him to thrive at the highest level, also ranking among the top 3% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions – behind the big European five – for progressive carries and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, which could serve him well on Tyneside if he does put pen to paper this summer.

Guimaraes plays more of a deep-lying role than his countryman, but thrives among a multitude of midfield roles and would be an apt mentor for Hugo to absorb the fruits of his craft, having been described as "world-class" by teammate Dan Burn for his impact at the club.

And he also ranks among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and successful take-ons, indicating his superlative technicality, which could be passed on to someone like Hugo.

Howe is making all the right moves to consolidate his squad's success last term and continue the meteoric rise into the fresh campaign, one that will hold heightened expectation and a return to European competition, and while Hugo would initially serve as an understudy of sorts, it might be the perfect time to sign him on and mould him into a first-rate phenom.