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Leandro Trossard has been left fuming after learning his EA FC 25 rating as he believes many of the stats "should have been much higher."

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• Trossard has an overall rating of 81 in EA FC 24
• Has seen marginal improvement this season
• Belgian not happy with some of the stats

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Belgian took just two minutes to make his mark against Aston Villa as he fired in Arsenal's opener with a first-time strike that flew past a hapless Emiliano Martinez. And what followed was the customary superhero-inspired celebration and a starting berth in the next match against Brighton.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Trossard's fiery start was a continuation of where he left off in the previous season. The Gunners went on to stitch a six-match winning run to end the 2023-24 Premier League campaign and the Belgian scored in four of them. However, his spike in performances was not amply reflected in the FC 25 ratings which infuriated the forward.

• WHAT TROSSARD SAID

  Trossard's pace attribute has gone up by one and is now 82 whereas his shooting (81) also got boosted by the same margin, which has disappointed the player.

  "Should be much higher," he said in an interview with the .

  "Now, that's not enough. Not at all. For any attacker, shooting is a big part. I have been practising all my life, especially on both feet how to score goals and I think I have shown already that I can score some nice goals."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Trossard emerged as one of Arsenal's key players last season making 46 appearances across competitions scoring 17 goals and providing two assists. His overall FC 25 rating is 83 which has increased marginally by two points.

BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton is under the belief that Tottenham "will have always been in contact" about signing a speedy player for 2024/2025.

Spurs chasing new forward deal for Postecoglou

As reliably reported, a position which Spurs are eager to strengthen this summer is out wide.

Tottenham laying groundwork to sign marquee striker with Paratici contacts

The Italian advises Spurs on a consultancy basis.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 6, 2024

Despite the presence of Timo Werner, Bryan Gil, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Manor Solomon in their squad already, it is believed Tottenham are admirers of both Wolves star Pedro Neto and Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace heading into the summer.

Manager Ange Postecoglou doesn't appear to favour Gil in his starting line up, leading to rumours that the Spaniard could in fact leave N17 this summer, while the consistently-injured Manor Solomon could quit Spurs if they end up bringing in two wingers (Dan Kilpatrick).

This would free up space for a new wide attacker for next term, and a decision must also be made on the long-term future of Werner.

The German, signed on loan from RB Leipzig in the winter transfer window, bagged his first Spurs goal against Crystal Palace last weekend and has registered a further two assists so far during his time at N17.

His deal is thought to contain a £15 million buy-option, something which may well entice the wider Tottenham recruitment team if Werner can display the kind of form which motivated Chelsea to splash £47.5m on him in 2020.

Hutton thinks Spurs will "always" be in contact over Werner deal for 24/25

Now, speaking to Tottenham News, former Lilywhites defender Hutton has suggested that Spurs will always have been in contact over signing Werner permanently for 24/25.

“I think they will have always been in contact about it,” said Hutton.

“I don’t think that will change between now and the end of the season, they will always be monitoring that situation. It always goes back to the same thing for me, he needs more than one opportunity to score a goal.

"You see Eze, fantastic free-kick but before that Werner has a great opportunity one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he shows amazing speed and that’s what he’s all about getting into position.

“Sometimes I just think when he has too long to think about it, I never feel confident that he’ll score. If that was Son, I’d put him down to score. But he got his goal and he’s off the mark. Well done, it’s good for him and good for the club, but I think they’ll be monitoring the situation from now until the end of the season to see if he’s a guy that can fit in long-term or not. Then they’ll have to make the decision."

Kevin Roberts said major venues locked in for the T20 World Cup would not be released for other sports if season were extended

Daniel Brettig17-Mar-2020Strategic cash reserves and standing agreements to take control of the nation’s biggest sporting venues for next summer’s T20 World Cup will be tightly held by Cricket Australia ahead of an off-season that is set to see winter sports ravaged by efforts to fight the global spread of coronavirus.In announcing that CA had chosen to cancel the Sheffield Shield final and award the title to the table-topping New South Wales side, while also recommending the cessation of all community cricket and instructing staff to work from home until at least April 13, the chief executive Kevin Roberts said that the governing body had moved towards playing out various scenarios. These include the prospect of long-term sporting shutdowns, perhaps even stretching into next season’s visit by India.”We’re working through scenario plans around that now,” Roberts said of longer-term shutdowns. “We’re in uncertain times, and it’s difficult to project precisely what will transpire over the next number of months. But we will be working through with advice from experts, externally as to what are the various scenarios that are plausible, how likely are they, and how would we plan to deal with each of them.ALSO READ: New South Wales named Sheffield Shield winners as final cancelled“We’re moving now from management of the onset of coronavirus as a critical incident, to how do we guarantee the continuity of our business and our organisation beyond that – moving from the reactive to the more proactive, and forming a team of business continuity experts that work through all of that over the coming months. We really empathise with the situation for winter sports, we are more fortunate with the timing of this.”Given the circumstances it’s hard to believe it was just a week ago that some of the greatest female cricketers in the world inspired men, women, boys and girls in amazing spectacle next door at the MCG. So we want to try and take the time to reflect proudly on that and make sure the ongoing impact of that great event, and the springboard it represents for women and girls’ sport, is maximised. We did get lucky there, no doubt, and we’ll do what we can to support our colleagues in other sports through the winter, who are going to be harder hit by this.”At the same time, Roberts indicated that any collaborative efforts with the likes of the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL), as seen in recent efforts to help rural communities recover from the summer’s horrific bushfire season, would have their limits. In particular, Roberts ruled out any discussion of pooling cash funds held by Australia’s major sports for contingency funding, with a vast difference in some cases as to how capable they are of coping without regular fixtures over the coming weeks and months.Crowds collect outside the MCG before the start of the T20 World Cup final•Getty Images

The NRL is in particularly grim territory, having liquidated its own A$54 million “future fund” in 2016 to deal with short-term cashflow issues and to fund the building of its digital arm, and with its chairman Peter V’Landys actively calling for government assistance. The AFL – thought to have reserves in the region of A$65 million – is somewhat better off, but facing the likelihood of hard times for the league and all clubs after announcing the pre-emptive reduction of the season to 17 regular rounds with an uncertain start date.”The discussions at an industry level for sport, what we have in common is that engagement with communities and the way that sport can bring communities together and inspire them like very few other things in life,” Roberts said. “The financial circumstances of each sport are matters for each sport, in saying that we’ll support the winter sports wherever we can, but I wouldn’t envisage that extends to a common financial pool if you like, given that the circumstances of each sport financially are their business.”As for the AFL floating the possibility of extending its season into December this year in the event of a heavily delayed start, Roberts said that CA and the ICC would be holding the likes of state governments and venue operators to their contracts to host the men’s T20 World Cup in October and November, culminating in the MCG final on November 15.”At a bigger picture level, we’re really hoping all forms of sport can be played again in a few weeks’ or a few months’ time,” Roberts said. “None of us are experts in this situation obviously, so our hope is we’re back in very much normal circumstances come October-November when the men’s T20 World Cup is to be played, and at this stage, we’re planning on November 15 to have a full house next door here at the MCG to inspire the world through men’s cricket, as the women’s cricketers did here just last week.””Certainly we would intend to work collaboratively and support the AFL and other winter sports codes through this period. We do have it a little bit easier at this stage, given the timing of our season. At the same time, there’s a World Cup planned, we’ve got agreements in place and our assumption is that they go ahead as planned, but all sports can be expecting support from us in the meantime.”While the Australian Cricketers Association has already declared its intent to oppose any health-related restrictions on its players travelling to India for the IPL should it go ahead from April 15, Roberts said that discussions of overseas travel and other future assignments, including the national team’s tours of Bangladesh and England in June and July, needed to take place as and when government and health advice was up-to-date.”We’re conscious that Australian players are individually contracted to the IPL and the time will certainly come very soon when players will be really interested and leaning on our perspective as their leader, if you like, to advise them in that regard,” Roberts said. “Then there’ll also be a perspective from the BCCI and their IPL division. Together with the BCCI and with our players, I’m sure players will reach the best possible decisions in uncertain circumstances.”There’s absolutely a bigger picture here and the health of the community, and not just in Australia either, worldwide. So we’re working closely with NZC, CSA, because of the cancellation of recent tours, we discussed the BCCI, so there’s an international lens as well, and we’re doing our best to cross-collaborate across other sports in Australia and also other ICC members worldwide.”

The versatile teenager is Pep Guardiola's new golden boy and looks set for a glorious future for club and country

It was Manchester City's first Premier League game after the 2022 World Cup, away to Leeds United. The starting XI looked familiar enough, featuring 10 players who had just appeared in Qatar. There was one exception though. Rico Lewis, who had only turned 18 the month before, was making his first league start.

Meanwhile, the highly experienced pair of Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker were on the bench. Both had gone deep at the World Cup, to the quarter-finals, but here they were, behind a kid who had only begun training with the first team the previous summer.

Lewis was eventually taken off for Cancelo when City were 3-0 up. But he was back in the line-up ahead of Walker and Cancelo again for the next game against Everton. Walker and Cancelo were restored for the following game at Chelsea, but both were hauled off at half-time at 0-0. Lewis was brought on and helped City earn a 1-0 win.

The humiliation grated away at Cancelo and he grew more and more irritated at losing his place in the team, leading to a furious spat with Pep Guardiola which saw him quickly loaned out to Bayern Munich, the first step of his eventual permanent departure to Al-Hilal. Walker, however, knuckled down and worked his way back into the team at Lewis' expense, becoming a crucial part of the team which won the treble before being named club captain.

Lewis continued to impress but ended up playing fewer minutes last season than in his breakthrough campaign. However, now the pattern has repeated itself and Lewis has pipped Walker's place again, not just for City but for England too.

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  Locking it down

  In similar circumstances to when he made his breakthrough into the City team, Lewis has seized the opportunity that his absence from a major tournament presented. When Walker walked out at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin for the Euro 2024 final against Spain, Lewis was sat at home alone, watching the game on television.

  He had turned down the chance to watch the game with his friends in Manchester, partly out of fear of getting soaked in beer and partly because he wanted to watch the game from a tactical point of view and take it all in. Besides, he had to rest up ahead of City's pre-season tour of the US.

  The States holds a special place in Lewis' heart as it was where he first made his mark for City's first team, coming off the bench against Club America and Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022. Back then he was 17 and so shy he sat down at the dinner table alone.

  But this summer he was one of the most experienced players in a mostly youthful travelling squad as most of his team-mates had been involved in the Euros or the Copa America.

  And since returning from the tour he has locked down his place in the team, playing 90 minutes in all four of City's games from the Community Shield to the 3-1 win at West Ham, when he played a starring role.

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  Taking Walker's place

  Walker joined up later with the squad after being given an extra week off by Guardiola and missed the Community Shield. However, he has been sat on the bench for all the Premier League games, only getting two minutes of action against West Ham. His lack of game time has cost him his place in the England squad for the first two games of the post-Gareth Southgate era.

  Lewis has taken his place, getting recalled by his former under-21's manager Lee Carsley. "I wanted to put a mark on the squad. Kyle hasn’t played this season. City are phasing him in gently and we have to respect that," explained Carsley.

  Guardiola also sought to lift Walker's spirits by assuring him he could get back into the England squad. "He is an incredible weapon for the national team because he has special qualities," he said.

  "But it was late, he arrived back with a few niggles and some problems. There are many games for the national team as well and with his physicality he has a chance to come back, play well here and the option to play for the national team remains open."

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  'Always free'

  But Guardiola's choice of words was telling, especially compared with how he talks about Lewis. While the manager highlights Walker's physical traits, he uses higher praise when talking about the teenager.

  "Have you seen the minutes he played in the pockets when Kyle came in? Rico has one incredible ability that for many years was difficult to find: always he is free," Guardiola said after the win at West Ham, in which Lewis set up Erling Haaland's second goal and nearly scored himself in a stunning opening 45 minutes by the champions.

  "He is always alone. Whenever his mate has the ball, I don't know what he does but he is free. You can pass the ball to him and not just in a comfortable position but where the spaces are so tight. He arrives in the final third, he is a good defender, he gives continuity, he can play in two or three positions. He's playing well so he deserves to play."

  The one thing holding Lewis back and in Walker's favour, Guardiola hinted, was that physical difference. The coach added: "But every three days he cannot sustain that, we need Kyle back, John [Stones] back and all the players ready because of the schedule that comes now until the end of the season."

  Walker will be back, it seems, but he has his work cut out in wresting his starting berth back from Lewis once more. He is nearly two years older than when he regained his place in the treble winning season and there were a few signs during the Euros that his physical powers are ever so slightly waning. Lewis, meanwhile, is two years wiser and also physically stronger.

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  Leading the evolution

  Guardiola thought so highly of Lewis that he entrusted him to lead the team's tactical evolution during the treble winning season. City had lost their final game before the World Cup to Brentford and Guardiola was scratching his head as to how to make the team more solid now that they were accommodating Haaland, having played without a centre-forward the previous season.

  Lewis was part of the solution, operating as a hybrid defender-midfielder, shuttling between right-back and holding midfield according to the situation of the game. Lewis' physical shortcomings ended up counting against him though and he lost his place back to Walker shortly after City were beaten 1-0 at Tottenham. In that game, Lewis got bullied by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Guardiola was annoyed with his more senior players for not backing the youngster up.

  At a similar time, the manager publicly humiliated Walker by saying he was not capable of slotting into the new system and playing that hybrid role. He instead asked John Stones to do it from centre-back, and restored Walker to his usual role of right-back. Walker had the games of his life against Vinicius Junior in the Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid and in the top-of-the-table clash against Arsenal.

  But Walker was then left out of the line-up for the Champions League final against Inter, highlighting his fragile status in Guardiola's eyes, even though he did come on for the final eight minutes. That snub led to him almost joining Bayern Munich, only for Guardiola to book out a high-end Japanese restaurant in Manchester's city centre and convince Walker, while eating the finest sushi, to sign a new contract. He gave him the captain's armband too.

Aston Villa's season is threatening to fizzle out as they are struck by fixture congestion and injury woes, with Unai Emery's side now looking less than certain for Champions League football next season.

Villa hit by another defensive injury

The Villans were handed a major boost just last week when it emerged that Tyrone Mings was making good progress in returning from his knee injury suffered at the beginning of the campaign, though he is not expected to feature before the end of the Premier League season.

Versatile defender Ezri Konsa is also on the treatment table, and is facing at least another fortnight out, while Jhon Duran is another key piece of squad depth out of action through injury.

And now they have another problem at centre-back, with Diego Carlos suffering an injury during a training session. Emery later confirmed that it was a hamstring issue and that the Brazilian would be sidelined for between three and four weeks with the injury.

It is yet another issue for the midlands outfit to contend with, having lost Boubacar Kamara to a season-ending knee injury in their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United a fortnight ago and with Emiliano Buendia having missed the entire season to date with the same issue.

Aston Villa’s 7/10 star was the real hero over Watkins v Fulham

Aston Villa picked up an impressive win over Fulham yesterday.

By
Tom Lever

Feb 18, 2024

Now, Villa journalist and writer Ty Bracey has had his say on the fallout from Carlos' absence. Speaking to Aston Villa News, he revealed that though it is 'another blow' for Emery, there are alternatives within the squad.

Villa stuttering at crucial point

Injuries are not helping Villa's situation, and the return of European football could see them tested once more. Emery's side were clear favourites for a top 5 spot before Christmas, but have won just three games out of their last seven across all competitions since the turn of the year.

Defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League has seen the Red Devils close the gap in the race for European football, and as it stands, all of Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are separated by just five points, though it remains the Midlands outfit leading the way.

They also await their fate in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League draw, which takes place on Friday, February 23rd, and which the Villans will feel that they have an excellent chance of winning with Emery at the helm.

However, with a smaller squad keeping everyone in peak condition for both competitions will become increasingly difficult, and with tricky Premier League games against Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all to come, it could ultimately prove a step too far for the injury-hit squad.

Of course, the season will still be considered a major success for Villa even if they miss out on Champions League football, with Emery having overseen a major change of fortunes at the club after taking over from Steven Gerrard 18 months ago. Should they add a European trophy too, it would be the best season in living memory for plenty of Villa fans.

Wrexham have seen a bid for Preston striker Will Keane rejected as Phil Parkinson aims to bolster his attack before Friday's deadline.

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• Wrexham launch Keane offer
• West Brom bid also rejected
• Mullin back from summer surgery

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Wrexham have turned to Keane in their bid to add Championship-level experience to their squad. According to ,the Red Dragons submitted a £750,000 offer to Preston that has been rejected by the Lilywhites.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Keane scored 13 goals in 38 Championship appearances for Preston last term, and he bagged the only goal in a 1-0 win against Luton at the weekend. Wrexham have completed seven permanent signings so far in the transfer window but none were attacking additions, and the pursuit of Keane appears to be an attempt to provide competition to Paul Mullin – who made his first appearance of the season against Reading last weekend – and Co.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Wrexham aren't alone in their attempts to sign Keane. Championship side West Brom saw a £500,000 bid for the former Manchester United youngster rejected, while Cardiff are also considering a move before Friday's transfer deadline.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Parkinson has hinted that Wrexham's transfer business isn't finished, but his side appears more than ready for the task ahead of them in League One. The Red Dragons have collected seven points from their opening three games and defeated the previously-unbeaten Reading 3-0 on Saturday.

He played 48 international matches and was the Man of the Match in his last Test, in 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-2020Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha has retired from international and first-class cricket, making the announcement on Friday via Twitter. Ojha remembered his “memorable” IPL journey too in a retirement letter he tweeted, effectively putting an end to his career across formats.”It’s time I move on to the next phase of my life. The love and support of each and every individual will always remain with me and motivate me all the time,” he tweeted.Ojha played 48 international matches – 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and six T20Is – from 2008 to 2013. In his last game for India, a Test against West Indies in 2013 which was Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match, Ojha finished with match figures of 10 for 89 and was named the Man of the Match. Overall, he took 113 Test wickets at an average of 30.26, 21 in ODIs and 10 in T20Is at an economy rate of 6.28.”To be an Indian cricketer and represent the country at the highest level was always a dream I cherished as a youngster,” Ojha said in a letter he posted on Twitter. “I fall short of words to describe how fortunate I have been to have lived, dream and earned the love and respect of my fellow countrymen. For a sportsperson, there cannot be a greater reward.” Ojha started his domestic career with Hyderabad in 2005 and made his international debut in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2008. In 2015 he left Hyderabad to ply his trade as a professional player in the domestic circuit and represented Bengal in 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. In 2017, he returned to Hyderabad, but for only one season before switching to Bihar for whom he played three one-day matches and one first-class game at the end of 2018.He ended his first class career with 424 wickets from 108 matches at an average of 28.60, with 23 five-fors and three 10-wicket match hauls. In 50-over games he had 123 wickets from 103 games and another 156 wickets from 142 T20s.In the IPL, he represented Deccan Chargers from 2008 to 2011 and Mumbai Indians from 2012 to 2015. In 2009 he helped the Chargers lift the trophy with 18 wickets, and even ended as the highest wicket-taker in 2010 with 21 scalps, when the Chargers lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the third-place playoff.”My eventful career has witnessed many ups and downs. Over the time, I have realized that the legacy of a sportsperson is not just the outcome of his hard work and dedication, but also the faith and guidance bestowed upon by the association (team management), teammates, coaches, trainers, and the fans. Their belief fills you with a strong sense of purpose and belonging.”I have been a part of the Hyderabad Cricket Association for close to 14 years, and the incredible experience I have gained will have an everlasting impact. I would like to express my gratitude to all the members of the Association who have supported me through these years.”Ojha also thanked the Cricket Association of Bengal, the Bihar Cricket Association, the two IPL franchises he represented and many of his former team-mates.”My humble salute to all my seniors and teammates from whom I draw immense inspiration, and who have helped me to strive to be a better sportsperson. I am very thankful to Mr. V.V.S. Laxman for mentoring me like an elder brother, Mr. Venkatapathy Raju for being the role model I always looked to emulate, Mr. Harbhajan Singh for being a constant adviser and Mr. M.S. Dhoni for providing me with the honorable opportunity to wear the Indian Cap.”I extend my regards to my contemporaries Mr. Rohit Sharma and Mr. Manoj Tiwary who have shared many eventful moments with me. My Hyderabad teammates – Mr. Amol Shinde, Mr. M.P. Arjun, Mr. Alfred Absolom and Mr.P.S Niranjan have been an integral and inseparable part of my journey. My utmost gratitude to Mr. Arjun Yadav who was the first captain I played under during my Ranji Trophy debut and also Mr. Kanwaljit Singh who coached me during the early phases of my career.”Lastly, I am certain that looking back at my career will always fill me with a sense of pride. The most memorable moments would be receiving my Test Cap from Mr. Sachin Tendulkar and accomplishing the feat of taking 100 test wickets. I hope to continue contributing towards the growth of Indian Cricket in every capacity possible.”

Newcastle have had a torrid campaign up to this point. From qualifying for the Champions League last season to now being ninth in the Premier League, their fall from grace has been quite severe.

Granted, the Magpies have had their fair share of injuries this season with multiple first-team players being absent on more than one occasion.

However, despite enduring the amount of injuries they have had this season, they should have had much more quality within the depth of their squad to find themselves placed higher than mid-table.

There is no doubt that their aims at the start of the Premier League season would have been at least the Europa League, however, if things carry on as they are, they may not even make Europe at all.

The signings made since Eddie Howe's appointment have allowed the squad to make vital changes and create a bond between each team member which allows players to bond and gel together.

However, one signing which Howe made in January 2023 is still struggling to find consistency.

Anthony Gordon's season in numbers so far

Signed for a reported fee of £45m in January 2023, many felt as if Everton had played a blinder by securing so much money for Anthony Gordon.

Prior to joining the Magpies, the winger had played a total of 18 games for Everton throughout the 2022/23 campaign and only registered a total of three goals.

Which, when compared to the season prior, is far from the quality he showed. Throughout 2021/22, Gordon appeared a total of 40 times for the Toffees and amassed seven goal contributions.

Although these stats are also not the strongest, they are much better than what he managed to produce in the 2022/23 campaign.

These numbers in themselves were enough to raise alarms among Premier League fans, with most claiming that Newcastle had been robbed by Everton.

In the second half of 2022/23, when he represented Newcastle, his lack of form continued. Despite playing 16 times in the Premier League, he only managed to score one goal.

This poor second half of the season further showcased why many thought that Everton had made the best decision by selling their academy graduate.

However, in the 2023/24 season so far, he has found himself in a decent run of form. He has played 36 games and has scored a total of eight goals.

Although this is the most prolific of the 23-year-old's career, the number of assists he has made (7) still happen to be shy of a Newcastle player who was sold for £25m in the summer transfer window.

Allan Saint-Maximin's season in numbers so far

After departing Tyneside for pastures new a few months ago, Allan Saint-Maximin is currently shining at his new club.

He joined Al-Ahli among many other stars in Saudi Arabia and has since become a pivotal part of the team. So much so that the France international has even managed to garner more assists (9) whilst with the Saudi Pro League side.

Saint-Maximin made himself into something of a 'cult hero' after joining Newcastle for a fee in the region of £16m. Although during his time in Tyneside, he wasn't the most consistent of players, as shown by his 34 goal contributions in 124 games, there was the odd moment of brilliance which the winger had in his locker.

Upon leaving the Magpies, he wrote a heartfelt message to fans which stated: "I fell for Newcastle, I had great opportunities to leave during dark days, but that was too late I was already in love, I wanted, I needed, I had to stay for helping my team to save the club from Premier League relegation because it meant the world for me."

"Of course during those dark days some may have had their doubts, but I always believed in this club and look where we are today, it's just so beautiful. I'm leaving Newcastle as it should always have been and that's my greatest trophy because I was a part of it."

Despite joining the club being relatively unknown, the passion and desire when he wore the black and white of Newcastle was unmatched.

So, it is nice to see that he is once again finding his feet in a new league, and, who knows, we could be seeing him returning to Europe in the near future.

The tour will also include three ODIs and two T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2020Bangladesh will host Zimbabwe for a one-off Test as well as three ODIs and two T20Is starting February 22. This will be the first time the two sides play a Test series that doesn’t have at least two Tests.The Test will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, less than two weeks after Bangladesh play the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi from February 7.The ODI series against Zimbabwe will run from March 1 to 6 in Chattogram, while the two T20Is – on March 9 and 11 – will be held in Mirpur. A week later, the same venue will host the World XI v Asia XI matches as part of the 100th birth anniversary celebrations of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation.Zimbabwe will also play a two-day practice match ahead of the Test, but the venue for that hasn’t been announced.The two sides last played a Test series in 2018, also in Bangladesh, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Cristiano Ronaldo has sent an inspirational message to his Al-Nassr team-mates after they opened their season with a draw against Al-Raed.

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• Nassr held on opening matchday of season
• Ronaldo scored in 1-1 draw
• Sends Instagram message

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Al-Nassr drew their opening game of the Saudi Pro League season, being held to a disappointing 1-1 stalemate with Al-Raed. Ronaldo scored Al-Nassr's only goal, sending a thumping header into the back of the net to open the scoring.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Al-Nassr are still seeking their first trophy during Ronaldo's time at the club, but have already been dealt two blows this season. While they drew their opening league game, they were thumped 4-1 by Al-Hilal in their Saudi Super Cup final.

• WHAT RONALDO SAID

  Ronaldo posted on Instagram: "We will never settle. We will never give up. Our determination knows no limits!"

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Al-Nassr play Al Feiha on Tuesday as they aim to record their first win of the season.