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The last few months have been a whirlwind for Tottenham Hotspur supporters, especially considering the topsy-turvy nature of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Lilywhites won the Europa League under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, with the Aussie delivering on his promise of always winning a trophy in his second season.

However, it was somewhat overshadowed by the 17th-place finish in the Premier League, which ultimately cost the 60-year-old his job in North London.

The responsibility of building on the triumph was handed the way of Thomas Frank, with the Dane joining the club from fellow top-flight club Brentford during the off-season.

Despite his arrival, some players have struggled to match the levels they produced last campaign, which will have no doubt been frustrating to the new manager.

The Spurs players who have struggled in 2025/26

After arguably his best-ever campaign in 2024/25, Brennan Johnson has endured a dismal current campaign and has often failed to deliver when called upon by Frank.

The Welsh international has only netted two league goals in 2025/26 to date, subsequently dropping down the pecking order and only making five starts since the Dane’s arrival.

He was even sent off in the latest Champions League clash against FC Copenhagen, which pretty much sums up the decline he’s endured over the last few months.

Johnson hasn’t been alone in struggling to match the levels he produced last season, with midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur another who’s been unable to produce on a consistent basis.

The Uruguayan international has only made eight starts to date, but his numbers from the current campaign showcase his dismal form in North London.

He’s ranked in the 43rd percentile for passes completed and has only been able to make 0.5 interceptions per 90 – often struggling to make an effect in and out of possession.

The Spurs star who needs to be offloaded

The decline of some players has led to the recent additions during the summer, with the hierarchy landing Mohammed Kudus in a £55m deal from West Ham United.

The Ghanaian international has since replaced Johnson on the right-hand side of the attack and has already made an immediate impact for the Lilywhites.

He’s scored once and registered four assists in the Premier League to date, with the latter of the two tallies the joint-highest of any player in England’s top-flight.

Kudus would have been joined in the final third by Dominic Solanke, but the Englishman has massively struggled with injuries and has been out of action since the end of August.

He’s been struggling with an ankle issue over the last couple of months, subsequently restricting him to a total of just 31 Premier League minutes in 2025/26.

As a result, the hierarchy decided to delve back into the transfer market to complete a loan deal for striker Randal Kolo Muani from French side PSG.

The 26-year-old’s move generated huge excitement within the fanbase, but after a couple of months, it’s safe to say that the deal so far has been a disaster for everyone involved.

He’s struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, with the loanee subsequently failing to score in any of his eight outings across all competitions.

His underlying stats also showcase his lack of form since his transfer on Deadline Day, with the former Juventus star undoubtedly struggling to meet expectations in England.

Randal Kolo Muani – PL stats (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

4

Goals & assists

0

Shots taken

0.47

Touches in opposition box

1.4

Aerials won

0.4

Aerial success rate

37%

Fouls committed

1.6

Passes completed per 90

8.2

Stats via FotMob

He’s only registered a total of 0.47 shots per 90 in England’s top-flight – with such a tally ranking him in the lowest 1% of all other attackers in the division this season.

Kolo Muani, who earns a reported £150k-per-week, has also registered just 1.4 touches in the opposition box and 0.4 aerials won per 90, which place him in the first percentile – further highlighting his lack of positive impact to date.

Such form backs up one content creator’s previous claim about the forward, with the Frenchman previously being dubbed “one of the most overrated players in the world”.

It’s evident that the move to date has been a huge failure, with the club desperately needing to cut ties and allow other players to stake their claim for a starting role.

His loan deal shouldn’t be made permanent in either of the two windows before it expires, but it’s crucial the club do invest big and land a new talisman for Frank.

Related Spurs star was one of the "best in the world", now he's on borrowed time

One Tottenham Hotspur star could be on borrowed time under Thomas Frank in the coming months.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 21, 2025

أكد نافع الرفاعي المتحدث الرسمي باسم الجيش الملكي المغربي، إن إدارة النادي اتخذت قرارًا بإيقاف الفئة التي أحدثت شغباً أمام الأهلي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وكان الأهلي قد تعادل مع نظيره فريق الجيش الملكي بهدف لكل منهما، في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

طالع.. محمد رمضان: كنت أريد أن أجعل من كهربا “عبرة”.. وثنائي الأهلي وقع على بياض

وقال الرفاعي في تصريحات على راديو ميجا إف إم: “الجيش الملكي يعاني من التحكيم هذا الموسم في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وتعرضنا لظلم تحكيمي واضح أمام يانج أفريكانز التنزاني في الجولة الأولى”. 

وأضاف: “نتعجب من عدم تواجد تقنية الفيديو في دور المجموعات بدوري أبطال إفريقيا، ونتمنى تطبيقها في المباريات المتبقية من دوري أبطال افريقيا”.

وتابع: “قدمنا اعتذارًا مباشراً إلى الأهلي عقب المباراة، وإدارة الاهلي تفهمت ذلك الأمر ونتمنى عدم تطبيق عقوبات ضد الجيش الملكي من كاف أو تكون عقوبات خفيفة”.

وواصل: “اتخذنا قرارا بمنع الجماهير التي أحدثت الشغب في مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي، ومنعهم من دخول المباريات، وهؤلاء دخلوا لمضايقة النادي الأهلي ولكن الأمور سارت على ما يرام”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo encara o Palmeiras nesta segunda-feira (29), pela quarta rodada do Brasileirão, em partida que marca o primeiro clássico de Luis Zulbeldía à frente do comando técnico da equipe.

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A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

A grande novidade do Tricolor pode ser o retorno do meia James Rodríguez, que desfalcou a equipe nas últimas três partidas em razão de uma lesão na posterior da coxa direita. Recuperado, o colombiano treinou normalmente com o restante do elenco no domingo (28) e deve estar à disposição da comissão técnica para o Choque-Rei.

No entanto, caso esteja disponível, James deve iniciar o clássico entre os reservas. A tendência é que Zubeldía escale o mesmo time que derrotou o Barcelona de Guayaquil por 2 a 0, no Equador, pela fase de grupos da Libertadores.

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Ferreirinha, que deixou o gramado do Estádio Monumental com câimbras, não preocupa. Luiz Gustavo, em transição após uma lesão no tendão de Aquiles, e Moreira, que aprimora a forma física após lesão no músculo reto femoral da perna direita, são listados como questionáveis.

Ele garante! Aposte R$100 no Lance! Betting e ganhe R$313 para gol de Calleri em São Paulo x Palmeiras no Brasileirão

Rafinha (fratura na fíbula esquerda), Lucas (lesão muscular) e Wellington Rato (sindesmose no tornozelo esquerdo e entorse) estão fora da partida contra o rival.

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Com isso, a provável escalação do São Paulo para o clássico tem: Rafael; Igor Vinicius, Arboleda, Alan Franco e Welington; Pablo Maia, Alison e Luciano (Galoppo); Ferreira, André Silva e Calleri.

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BrasileirãoescalaçãoFutebol NacionalLuis ZubeldíaPalmeirasSão Paulo

Kranti Goud picked up 3 for 20 to continue her rapid rise with India’s ODI side

Shashank Kishore05-Oct-20254:12

Goud, Deepti, Ghosh make it two from two for India

Kranti Goud, 22, was informed of her India debut at the R Premadasa Stadium in May 2025. She had largely been picked as an apprentice, with India waiting on two senior players – Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, both injured and in rehab.It was an unremarkable debut, for figures of 5-0-22-0. But among the many things she did right was hitting Chamari Athapaththu, a ferocious puller of the cricket ball, on her ribs. That tiny moment, lost amid Smriti Mandhana’s century and Sneh Rana’s four-for, encouraged India’s selectors to take a punt on her for the England tour.When she picked up a six-for in Durham, hooping the ball and leaving England’s top order gasping en route to an impressive series victory, it was fairly evident Goud had sealed her World Cup spot, irrespective of whether the injured senior pacers returned. Renuka has, Vastrakar hasn’t, but Goud has made herself undroppable after just two outings.Related

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A week after she opened the 2025 World Cup with 1 for 41 in India’s win over Sri Lanka, Goud stung Pakistan’s top order in a fiery new-ball spell. She finished with 3 for 20 in India’s 88-run win in Colombo, one that her neighbourhood watched on a giant LED screen they’d installed back in Ghuwara, a town in rural Madhya Pradesh.”The talk is about focusing on line and length only,” Goud said after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. “I haven’t thought of doing much extra. Variations like bouncer or slower balls, those depend on the situation. The coaches told me to pull my lengths back a little based on the conditions and surface, that’s what I did.”It wasn’t merely Goud listening to her coaches that did the trick. She also got the captain to give her the fields she wanted most times. In the 12th over, with the ball losing some of its shine, Harmanpreet Kaur pulled out Deepti Sharma from the slips, only for Goud to wheel her back to where she’d been.The result? Aliya Riyaz was defeated by late movement to get a healthy edge through to Deepti at second slip. A jubilant Goud immediately turned to her captain, who ran towards her to acknowledge her contribution.”The ball was swinging early on, I couldn’t understand what was happening,” Goud said with a chuckle when asked about her first spell. “One ball came in a long way. Then when the ball was old, Harman wanted to take the slip off, but I said, ‘no didi, let’s keep the slip for this over.'”I had that feeling from within that I could get a wicket, and I got it off the first ball. They found it tough to play our pacers. Because the ball was moving in and out, that’s why I had a lengthy first spell.”Goud bowled six unchanged overs with the new ball. The other small contribution she made to India’s win was her crucial lower-order runs with Richa Ghosh. Coming in with India 226 for 8, the ninth-wicket pair added 21 to haul India to 247.Goud’s contribution was 8 off 4 balls, including two fours: a cover drive off her first ball, against left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, and then a boundary off Diana Baig when she got inside the line to help a short delivery past short fine leg.”Richa told me, if there’s a ball to be hit, go for it. But if you’re not able to, just give me a single,” Goud said. “Because only a few overs were left, we needed to score as many as we could. First ball itself was hittable, so I hit a four. Then she told me, play like this only. The second [boundary] was a short ball, so I went for it. Look forward to playing well like this.”Goud would perhaps acknowledge tougher tests await, but the stage on Sunday wasn’t to be scoffed at, even if India did come in with a 11-0 record over Pakistan in women’s ODIs. With the men’s Asia Cup having been played in an environment far from the bonhomie the teams have shown in the past, the focus was on the women’s game to see if some of the hostilities would spill over. It didn’t, even though the teams didn’t shake hands before or after the match.But the off-field noise was far from Goud’s mind. “I wasn’t thinking of India-Pakistan or other things,” she said. “My duty is to bowl, and I was doing just that.”

Tottenham Hotspur were left reeling after being thumped by north London neighbours Arsenal last weekend. It was a sobering afternoon for Thomas Frank, who did take solace days later in his side’s spirited 5-3 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.

Much of the frustration around Spurs’ start to the season has centred around attacking struggles. To be sure, Ange Postecoglou’s unshackled offensive system is no longer discernible down N17, though Frank has undeniably instilled a more stable base.

Premier League 25/26 – xG Leaders

Club

League Position

xG

(1) Chelsea

2nd

22.1

(2) Man City

3rd

21.8

(3) Arsenal

1st

20.7

(4) Crystal Palace

5th

20.2

(5) Man Utd

10th

19.9

(17) Tottenham

9th

11.1

Data via FBref

However, while there is work to be made on the creative front – and remember, injured playmakers James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have not kicked a ball this season – nine goals shipped in the last week underlines the wider problems.

It’s for this reason that the new hierarchy is considering a winter move for a centre-back.

Spurs' search for a defender

In Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, Tottenham have one of the most robust defensive partnerships in the Premier League. However, the balance isn’t there at the back.

The Lilywhites have been sold short in key areas. You could make a top starting 11 in a fully-fit Spurs stadium, but the wider squad leave plenty to be desired, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies applicable in regard to central defence.

That’s why Spanish sources have confirmed that Tottenham are planning a winter move for Juventus centre-half Gleison Bremer, who could be available for a cut-price €40m (£35m)

The report suggests that Spurs ‘would be willing to negotiate’ and offer an ‘attractive financial package’ in order to tempt the Old Lady into a sale.

What Bremer would bring to Spurs

Two months ago, Bremer suffered a meniscus injury to his left knee. This week, he returned to full team training. Considered one of the best defenders in Europe for his defensive security and “world-class” performances, as said by CBS commentator Matteo Bonetti, against elite forwards.

In truth, he hasn’t played much football over the past year, but Bremer is returning to full fitness now and started the Serie A season off strongly, Sofascore recording that he won 63% of his ground duels across the first four fixtures of the term, averaging 5.5 clearances and 4.5 recoveries per game. He set up two goals, underscoring the ball-playing quality that Frank needs to help establish build-up patterns down N17.

Van de Ven, of course, would provide Bremer with stiff competition in front of Guglielmo Vicario’s goal, but there’s a case to be made that the Brazilian is a stronger defender than his Dutch counterpart, who has only won 52% of his duels in the Premier League this season, ranking among the bottom 36% of positional peers for tackles won per 90 (0.36).

The 24-year-old is an athletic phenomenon, and no mistake.

Top Recorded Speeds in the Prem (since 20/21)

Player

Club

Speed (km/h)

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.38

Kyle Walker

Man City

37.31

Jackson Tchatchoua

Wolves

37.30

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.23

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham

37.12

Data via Premier League

But he’s hardly flawless. Van de Ven has made two direct mistakes in the Premier League this year (Bremer has yet to blunder), and he needs to continue to develop his positioning and tactical alliance with those around him.

Maybe Van de Ven feels overburdened by the weight of responsibility at times. He has a lot of ground to cover, after all, especially with Romero in and out of the team due to injuries.

Hailed as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson for his physicality and power, Bremer might just be the solution for a Tottenham side desperate to make headway after an up-and-down start.

This ferocious defender would offer a different flavour, and maybe that’s what Frank’s rearguard need to stabilise and create a more fluent overarching system.

Juventus legend Sergi Brio described Bremer as the “best defender in Serie A” two years ago, and though his match action has been limited thereafter, there’s no question that this is a star who could make a marked difference at Frank’s Tottenham, providing a counterpoint at the back while deepening the squad as they look to kick on.

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Posts ByDan Emery Nov 29, 2025

يخوض منتخب مصر الثاني بقيادة مديره الفني حلمي طولان اختبارًا مهمًا مساء اليوم، عندما يلتقي منتخب الأردن في مواجهة مرتقبة ضمن منافسات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب 2025، في مباراة تحمل طابعًا تنافسيًا قويًا بين المنتخبين.

طالع | فيديو | بهزيمة وتعادلين.. منتخب مصر يودع كأس العرب بالخسارة بثلاثية أمام الأردن

ودخل منتخب مصر هذه الجولة بعد تعادل في المواجهة الماضية أمام الإمارات بهدف لكل فريق، وهو التعادل الذي حافظ على حظوظ “الفراعنة” في التأهل، لكنه في الوقت نفسه جعل من لقاء الأردن مواجهة لا تقبل التفريط، خاصة مع تقارب ترتيب المنتخبات داخل المجموعة.

ويأتي منتخب مصر ضمن المجموعة الثالثة إلى جانب منتخبات الأردن والإمارات والكويت، وهي مجموعة صعبة اتسمت نتائجها بالتقارب الشديد منذ الجولة الأولى، مما جعل الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة حاسمة في تحديد المتأهلين.

ويسعى المنتخب المصري لتحقيق نتيجة إيجابية أمام الأردن، لضمان العبور رسميًا إلى الدور التالي، في حين يدرك الجهاز الفني بقيادة حلمي طولان أهمية المباراة وضرورة الحفاظ على التركيز طوال الـ90 دقيقة، خاصة في ظل الأداء القوي الذي قدمه المنتخب الأردني في الجولتين السابقتين.

طالع أيضًا | القنوات الناقلة لمباراة مصر والأردن في كأس العرب 2025

ويحتل منتخب مصر المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة برصيد نقطتين حصدهما من تعادلين أمام الكويت ثم الإمارات، بينما يدخل الأردن المواجهة بعد أن حسم التأهل كمتصدر للمجموعة بـ 6 نقاط. موعد مباراة مصر والأردن اليوم في كأس العرب 2025

تنطلق مباراة مصر والأردن اليوم الثلاثاء في تمام الساعة 4:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، و5:30 مساءً بتوقيت السعودية وقطر والأردن، في لقاء ينتظر أن يشهد حضورًا جماهيريًا كبيرًا ودعمًا ملحوظًا من جماهير البلدين داخل الملاعب القطرية.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

MatériaMais Notícias

A VaideBet, patrocinadora máster do Corinthians, se pronunciou oficialmente quanto às recentes polêmicas envolvendo o contrato da empresa de apostas esportivas com o Timão. 

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➡️ Vai dar Brasil? Aposte no Lance! Betting e fature com a Copa América

Na nota, a VaideBet reitera ter falado apenas com Alex Cassundé para chegar no Corinthians. Ele é o dona da Rede Social Media Design LTDA, que recebeu R$25,2 milhões do clube pela intermediação do negócio. A VaideBet monitora os próximos passos e não descarta rescindir o contrato com o Corinthians. 

➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

Veja na íntegra o comunicado emitido pela VaideBet, patrocinadora do Corinthians

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão

“A VaideBet informa que tem acompanhado atentamente as publicações e manifestações envolvendo o comissionamento do contrato de patrocínio ao Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, e que desde o mês de abril tem solicitado esclarecimentos sobre o caso. 

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Durante as últimas semanas, a VaideBet pediu informações ao Corinthians em ocasiões variadas e realizou reunião presencial na sede do clube no dia 8 de maio, além de ter enviado um comunicado à diretoria na última segunda-feira (20). 

Desde o primeiro momento, a VaideBet foi contatada por um agente intermediário sobre a possibilidade de se firmar um acordo para patrocínio master do Corinthians e foi conduzida pelo referido interveniente até a diretoria do clube para o início das negociações. Nunca houve contato com qualquer outra empresa a respeito da negociação para o acordo de patrocínio.

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A VaideBet observa com atenção os desdobramentos do atual cenário e avalia os próximos passos.”

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CorinthiansVaideBet

Newcastle United’s December fixture list is looking extremely busy already.

By the time the action-packed month closes, Eddie Howe’s Toon will have played eight games in all competitions, with Bayer Leverkusen up next for the frantic Magpies in the Champions League.

So far for Howe and Co, it’s been one draw and one win in the hectic month, with the 2-1 win over Burnley secured last time out in the Premier League far more nervy than it needed to be, after the hosts had gifted the ten-man Clarets a penalty right at the death.

Thankfully, no late fightback was on the cards, but with fixture congestion obviously going to become a big issue the more the month goes on, some changes could be on the agenda for the trip to Germany on Wednesday night, whether it’s because of tired legs or an actual drop in performance.

Where Eddie Howe needs to rotate against Leverkusen

With 17 shots tallied up on the Burnley goal throughout, Newcastle, arguably, should have notched up a far more comprehensive win against Scott Parker’s valiant visitors.

Nick Woltemade didn’t cover himself in much glory up top, in this regard, with just 18 touches of the ball passing him by, leading to zero on-target shots being powered at Martin Dubravka’s busy goal.

With Yoane Wissa back and available for selection after a lengthy injury, too, it could well be the perfect time to test out the ex-Brentford striker from the start against Leverkusen, with the German dismissed as having a “sloppy” performance, as per the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope.

He wasn’t the only performer on the pitch that stood out for all the wrong reasons, though, with Jacob Ramsey struggling throughout, next to Bruno Guimaraes, who grabbed another memorable Toon strike.

Sandro Tonali and Joelinton will likely walk back into the midfield spots ahead of Ramsey, who would give up the handball that gifted Zian Flemming a 94th-minute lifeline.

Anthony Elanga also continues to look lost in Newcastle black and white, with just one of his seven dribbles coming off against Burnley, but other Newcastle faces managed to cement their first-team position even more on Saturday afternoon, as this often hit-and-miss attacker continues to turn around his initially underwhelming season.

Newcastle's "best player" is now undroppable again

Newcastle have been very hit and miss so far this season, but with three Premier League victories now from their last four clashes in the tough division, Howe will hope his wobbly team have turned a corner.

Anthony Gordon certainly has, with the ex-Everton winger’s days of drawing blanks in league action this season firmly over, as he has now converted two crucial penalties back-to-back at St. James’ Park.

Without the England international’s ice-cold precision from the spot, the Magpies might well have been staring at two completely different results.

It’s been a very sharp turnaround in fortunes for the 24-year-old, with one analyst claiming that Gordon had entered “Gabriel Obertan territory” earlier in the campaign when he was consistently drawing blanks in the Premier League.

Obertan would only go on to score three goals for the Toon across a difficult 77-game spell, having never lived up to his early hype in England, when on the books of Manchester United.

Thankfully, Gordon now looks to have recaptured his gung-ho best, away from looking passive down the channels, with Howe – come the full-time whistle of the Burnley win – even labelling the Liverpool-born forward as the “best player” on the pitch as his “direct running” ultimately helped Newcastle overcome a stern Clarets battle.

Gordon’s numbers in 25/26

Stat

Gordon

PL games played

10

PL goals scored

2

PL assists

0

Champions League games played

5

CL goals scored

4

CL assists

1

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, too, Gordon has the chance to firm up why he deserves to be one of Howe’s first names on the teamsheets by putting in another memorable showing in the Champions League at the BayArena, having mustered up a sublime four goals and one assist this season in Europe’s first-class competition.

With a whirlwind 37 goals and assists amassed over his previous two seasons on Tyneside, too, Gordon will hope he can enter into another purple patch of form after suffering from some shaky moments here and there this campaign, off the back of his manager’s glowing words.

There’s certainly plenty of action ahead for Gordon to sink his teeth into, as he prays more words of praise come his way soon from his manager and beyond, alongside Newcastle continuing to pick up more wins.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall 5 days ago

Wood will continue to train as planned ahead of Perth Test, but whether England select him or not remains to be seen

Tristan Lavalette15-Nov-2025

Mark Wood was in good spirits after being cleared of a hamstring strain•Getty Images

Mark Wood has been cleared of a hamstring injury in a relief for England ahead of the Ashes, but he will not take the field on the final day of England’s sole warm-up game at Lilac Hill in Perth against England Lions.In what came as a scare for England, Wood experienced stiffness in his left hamstring on Friday after bowling two four-over spells to start the three-day match. He left the field after his second spell midway through the second session before being sent for scans.Related

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Ollie Pope puts selection talk to bed with warm-up century

Hazlewood out of Ashes opener with hamstring injury

“Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring,” the ECB said in a statement.The ECB also said that Wood would continue to train as planned ahead of the first Test, starting on November 21 in Perth, but whether England are going to select him or not remains to be seen.Brydon Carse, who overcame illness on the first day of the warm-up to claim three wickets in England’s second innings, welcomed the prospect of England’s fastest bowler being part of the mix at Perth.”That’s great news,” Carse said. “Woody found out last night that it’s nothing serious, he’s going to have a couple of days off and then have a good bit of training up leading up to that first Test.”For any player, when you’re waiting on a result of a scan, it can be a little bit niggly, but he was fairly confident. So, he’s all up and about and full of energy at the moment.”England have taken a cautious approach with Wood’s rehabilitation from the knee injury that he sustained at the Champions Trophy in February. He had initially hoped to feature in the final Test of their summer series against India, but a setback in training ended up ruling him out of the entire home season.”He’s got a huge amount of resilience,” Carse added. “You look back at some of the setbacks that he’s had over his career, to keep going through the processes to get back out on the field, it’s very exciting, and it shows the sort of character that he has.”Wood, on the first day, had bowled several lively deliveries on a relatively sedate surface at Lilac Hill, a suburban ground in the fringes of Perth.The conditions at the Optus Stadium are expected to be more conducive to fast bowling and, in addition to Wood and Carse, the squad also has Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Matt Potts, Josh Tongue and Ben Stokes as quick-bowling options.”This week was all about bowlers getting miles in their legs,” Carse added. “It’s exciting. I think we’ve got a group of six bowlers who, whatever dynamic we go with, will relish those conditions.”Later on Saturday, Australia suffered a major blow when Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the opening Test with a hamstring injury after initially being cleared during the Sheffield Shield game against Victoria last week.