Blair Tickner, who was taken to hospital for treatment soon after picking up the injury, “is awaiting further specialist assessment to determine his return to play”

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2025Blair Tickner will not bowl or field at all, and is unlikely to bat for the remainder of the ongoing second Test between New Zealand and West Indies in Wellington, after dislocating his left shoulder while diving to stop a boundary on the first day of the game on Wednesday.Tickner, who was taken to hospital for treatment soon after his injury, which he suffered in the second session of the first day, has joined the squad at the ground but “is awaiting further specialist assessment to determine his return to play”, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement on Thursday.Tickner, who led New Zealand’s fast-bowling show on the opening day with a four-for, had to be stretchered off in the 67th over of West Indies’ innings when he attempted to prevent a boundary at fine leg. Chasing a flick from Tevin Imlach, he dived full-length near the rope and stayed down, prompting concern from his team-mates. The medical staff from the New Zealand camp and the venue attended to him before he was taken off the field – sitting up but in obvious discomfort – to warm applause from the Basin Reserve crowd.Playing his first Test since early 2023, Tickner had been drafted into the XI for this match after injuries to Matt Henry and Nathan Smith in Christchurch. His 4 for 32 from 16 overs made him New Zealand’s best bowler on the day. His injury, however, added to an already lengthy list of unavailable fast bowlers for New Zealand this series, which includes Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke and Matt Fisher.New Zealand are now facing the prospect of losing a third fast bowler this series. They were similarly reduced in Christchurch, which had a knock-on effect and allowed West Indies to bat out a draw.Before being forced off, Tickner trapped Brandon King (33) and Kavem Hodge (0) lbw, used a sharp bouncer to dismiss Shai Hope for 48, and uprooted Roston Chase’s leg stump to put New Zealand firmly in control.In Tickner’s absence, New Zealand’s bowling in West Indies’ second innings will have to be shouldered by Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and debutant Michael Rae, with the part-time spin trio of Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson and occasional medium-pacer Daryl Mitchell around to chip in as needed.

India spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been named Tamil Nadu captain for the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, beginning November 26. Narayan Jagadeesan will be the vice-captain.Varun played a handy role in India’s recent T20I series win in Australia, taking five wickets across three completed matches. This will be his first captaincy stint at any level. He replaced M Shahrukh Khan in the role and was appointed ahead of R Sai Kishore and Jagadeesan, both of whom have prior captaincy experience.India left-arm seamer T Natarajan is also part of the squad, as is his fellow left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh. Two more left-armers, Sai Kishore and M Siddharth, will lead the spin attack.Tamil Nadu are having a modest run in the ongoing Ranji Trophy and are placed sixth in their group after two losses and two draws in four games.In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, they are in Elite Group D alongside Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Tripura, Jharkhand and Saurashtra. They will open their campaign against Rajasthan in Ahmedabad.

Tamil Nadu squad

Varun Chakravarthy (capt), Narayan Jagadeesan (vice-capt, wk), Tushar Raheja (wk), VP Amit Sathvik, M Shahrukh Khan, Andre Siddarth, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Shivam Singh, R Sai Kishore, M Siddharth, T Natarajan, Gurjapneet Singh, A Esakkimuthu, R Sonu Yadav, R Silambarasan, S Rithik Easwaran (wk)

Carlos Baleba has addressed talk that speculation over a summer move to Manchester United has impacted his form. The Cameroon international was heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford over the summer as Ruben Amorim pushed to strengthen his side in the middle of the park. However, United failed to agree a fee with Brighton, and the transfer ultimately failed to materialise.

Getty Images SportBrighton boss suggests United speculation has impacted Baleba

United were active over the summer as they brought in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko from Wolves, Brentford and RB Leipzig, respectively, to improve their frontline. In addition, the Manchester giants also signed Senne Lammens from Antwerp as a replacement for inconsistent pair Andre Onana, who moved to Trabzonspor on loan, and Altay Bayindir between the sticks.

Amorim, though, had pushed to sign another central midfielder to provide cover and competition for first choice pair Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro. United sought to agree a deal with Brighton for Baleba, but Amorim's side scoffed at the Seagulls' hefty asking price for the former Lille man, which was around the £100 million ($134m) mark, and a deal failed to come to fruition.

Brighton have started the season well, yet Baleba's performance levels have dipped from the previous campaign. And head coach Fabian Hurzeler last month called for the rumours over the midfielder and United to end to allow the player to focus on his football.

"It’s about being a Brighton player, it’s about performing well here and it is about getting him back to his best level. Avoid the noise, avoid all the rumours and focus on the things you can influence and the things you can do best and that’s football," Hurzeler said.

Advertisement'I had a lot of pressure on me' claims Seagulls star

Baleba has played the full 90 minutes in a Premier League match just the once this season, and has been hooked at the break on four occasions. The player himself, though, is adamant that reports linking him with a move to United isn't to blame for his sub-part start to the campaign.

Speaking to , Baleba said: "I don’t think it affected me negatively, but I had a lot of pressure on me. When I started this season, I wanted to show the same performances as last season.

"Every day I try to work hard and get back to my level. Did I put too much pressure on myself? Yes, I think so, but I think it’s good. It’s good for me, because now I have to get through this slightly stressful period, get back on the horse and continue working hard."

Getty Images SportBaleba not the only midfielder wanted by United

Baleba is again being linked with a January switch to Old Trafford as United look to bolster in the middle of the park in the new year. The Cameroon international, who played his final Brighton game on Saturday before jetting off for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month, isn't the only Premier League central midfielder on United's radar.

Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton is another wanted by United, though a number of Premier League rivals are also tracking the former Blackburn Rovers youngster. Elliot Anderson has also emerged as a potential target for Amorim's side, however, Nottingham Forest will rebuff any efforts to sign the England international in January.

United's inability to add bodies in the middle of the park in early 2026 will impact Kobbie Mainoo's hopes to leave next month. The England international is wanted by a host of European sides, including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Napoli, but United are unwilling to green-light Mainoo's exit without a sufficient replacement.

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United back in action on Monday night

United are next in action on Monday night when they welcome Bournemouth to Old Trafford. Amorim has overseen two wins from United's last three, with a 1-1 home draw with West Ham sandwiched between victories at Crystal Palace and Wolves.

Seven points from the last nine available means United are currently three points off the Champions League spots, albeit with a game in hand on fourth-placed Chelsea.

Brenden Aaronson is fighting for minutes at Leeds, Johnny Cardoso needs fitness at Atlético, and both Weston McKennie and Haji Wright have chances to make statements in key matches across Europe.

Phew. That was a collective sigh of relief from U.S. men’s national team fans – and likely from the players and Mauricio Pochettino – after landing a favorable World Cup draw on Friday. There will be months to dive into that, just under seven to be exact, but the focus now swings back to club action, where plenty is at stake for U.S. internationals both domestically and abroad this weekend.

Stateside, MLS Cup features three U.S. internationals – Sebastian Berhalter, Tristan Blackmon and Brian White – all hoping to win a first title for the Vancouver Whitecaps against Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami in Florida. Across the Atlantic, there are several significant fixtures to follow. Brenden Aaronson’s Leeds were all but ready to sack Daniel Farke after a poor run of results, but a shock win over Chelsea has bought time – even if Aaronson was a healthy scratch, raising fresh questions over his fit.

Then there’s Johnny Cardoso, who arguably made the biggest move of any USMNT player this year by joining Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. The midfielder has struggled to carve out a role, but earned a massive start against Barcelona before suffering an injury that could sideline him again. And in Italy, Weston McKennie’s Juventus meet Napoli in a match that may already shape their season.

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines for Americans Abroad this weekend.

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  Is Aaronson's future at Leeds uncertain

  For months, it all appeared to make sense. Even without goals, Aaronson was an important part of Leeds’ surprising start. In September, the Whites were 12th -comfortably above the relegation zone – and the American was playing his part. Despite pushing back on the idea that he was merely a runner, his relentless pressing and willingness to cover both flanks proved invaluable during that stretch. A converted central midfielder, he was using his pace and work rate to make a difference.

  Since then, though, Leeds have won just once across October and November, with their only three points coming against lowly West Ham. Daniel Farke — who was the oddsmakers’ favorite to be sacked – defended Aaronson through that run despite growing fan criticism. Yet in midweek, Leeds stunned the Premier League by beating Chelsea 3-1. And they did it without their American right winger playing a single minute.

  One result is too small a sample to draw big conclusions, but managers don’t tend to stray from winning formulas. With struggling Liverpool up next, is Aaronson now on the outside looking in?

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  Juventus' season on the line

  There are plenty of opinions about whether USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino truly rates Weston McKennie, but the reality is this: he remains a key part of Juventus’ squad. He can play across multiple positions, both in attack and in defense, and is approaching 150 league appearances for the historic Italian club – with 12 already this season. A decade ago, that level of influence at Juventus would have been almost inconceivable for an American.

  Yet uncertainty lingers over his long-term future. McKennie’s contract expires this summer, and there are larger concerns around Juventus as a whole. After flirting with a top-three spot early on, the club has slipped to seventh, a slide that cost Igor Tudor his job.

  Well-regarded Italian manager Luciano Spalletti has come in, but results haven’t changed dramatically: two wins and two draws in his first four league matches. Saturday’s game against defending champions Napoli offers an opportunity to reset the season – if Juve can claim three points.

  Napoli aren’t as dominant as they were last year under Antonio Conte, but they are still level on points with Christian Pulisic’s league-leading AC Milan. A win would bring McKennie and Juventus within two points of the Gli Azzurri. McKennie has yet to record a goal contribution against Napoli, but his record is perfectly even: 3-3-3.

  All of it points to a must-watch match for Serie A fans.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Cardoso's challenges at Atleti

  Cardoso looked like the perfect fit for Atlético Madrid from the moment he was linked. Skillful but rugged, he seemed almost engineered for Diego Simeone’s system.

  But circumstances – injuries and uneven form – have delayed his impact.

  The defensive midfielder has spent recent weeks on the bench and was finally handed a big opportunity against Barcelona midweek. It didn’t last long. Cardoso came off injured after just 12 minutes in a 3-1 defeat, and reportedly did not train ahead of Saturday’s match against Athletic.

  That raises a broader concern in a World Cup year. Cardoso’s talent is obvious, but he still hasn’t carved out a consistent role at the international level. In his absence, others such as Cristian Roldan have taken their chances. Availability is a skill, too, and without a sustained run of minutes, Cardoso could be a high-profile player watching from the outside.

  If he is available, Saturday offers a chance to get back on track. Athletic aren’t Barcelona. They’re middle of the pack defensively, conceding 20 goals in 15 games, and near the bottom in scoring with just 14. These are exactly the types of matches that can help him rebuild rhythm and confidence.

  Hopefully, he sees the field – and makes the most of it.

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  Checking in on Haji

  Haji Wright was arguably the Championship’s best striker through the first three months of the season, but he has gone quiet since the start of November. Fortunately for both him and Frank Lampard, Coventry haven’t slowed. They remain the surprise runaway promotion contender, even as Wright has been blanked in recent weeks after scoring nine goals during that early stretch.

  Saturday’s matchup with Ipswich offers a chance to get back on track. Ipswich are middling on both ends – 30 goals scored and 19 conceded – respectable numbers, but nowhere near Coventry’s output. The Sky Blues have already hit 50 goals in just 18 matches. The next closest team is ninth-placed Hull on 31.

  With Coventry playing so open and aggressively on the front foot, this is the type of match where Wright could rediscover his rhythm and make an impact again.

Jacob deGrom is back.

The Texas Rangers right-hander was named to the American League All-Star team last week in recognition of what is turning into a brilliant comeback season. A two-time Cy Young Award winner, deGrom has battled injuries since the 2021 season but is finally healthy again in 2025.

The 37-year-old had a dominant 2021 campaign ended by elbow inflammation, and missed much of the 2022 campaign due to a stress reaction in his right scapula. After leaving the New York Mets to sign a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers in December of 2022, he made just six starts for his new team before needing Tommy John surgery. He didn't start another major league game until September 13, 2024.

This season, deGrom has returned to form, and while he's not notching as many strikeouts as he used to, he has been excellent. Through 18 starts, he's 9-2 with a 2.29 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 105 punchouts against 23 walks in 106 1/3 innings. He's currently eighth among AL pitchers in fWAR (2.6).

Though it has been years since he was at his peak, deGrom has a legitimate claim to being the most dominant pitcher of his generation. What follows is a look inside the numbers of his comeback season and his brilliant career. It should serve as a reminder of just how great he is.

1 — Pitchers with more WAR than deGrom since he broke into the big leagues in 2014. Only Max Scherzer's total of 56.3 tops deGrom's 45.4

2 — Pitchers with more fWAR than deGrom since 2014. Scherzer (52.7) and Clayton Kershaw (46.4) top deGrom's total of 45.6.

21 — More appearances (20 starts) Kershaw has had than deGrom in that time.

60 — More appearances (all starts) Scherzer has had than deGrom in that time.

0.99 — deGrom's career WHIP, second to Kershaw's 0.96 since 2014.

2.50 — deGrom's career ERA, second to Kershaw's 2.45 since 2014.

2.63 — deGrom's FIP since 2014, best among pitchers with at least 50 starts. Spencer Strider second by a significant margin (2.78), followed by Chris Sale (2.79) and Kershaw (2.83).

156 — deGrom's career ERA+, second to Kershaw's 162 since 2014. (Side note: Clayton Kershaw was really good. He was also a six-year veteran when deGrom debuted.)

1.08 — deGrom's ERA in 2021. He only made 15 starts, which prevents it from being considered one of the greatest seasons of all-time, but he had a WHIP of 0.75 and 146 strikeouts and 11 walks in 92 innings. An elbow injury ended his season on July 18.

373 — deGrom's ERA+ during that season, the best in MLB history for a pitcher making 15 or more starts by nearly. Pedro Martinez finished at 291 during his legendary 2000 season. When factoring in the Negro Leagues, deGrom's 2021 season is still the best by 50 points, topping Slim Jones's 1934 season for the Philadelphia Stars where he finished at 323.

1.98 — deGrom's combined ERA from 2018 through the '21 season. In that time, he made 91 starts and went 32-21 with 774 strikeouts in 581 innings pitched with a 0.88 WHIP.

205 — His ERA+ in that time, one of the most dominant four-year stretches for a pitcher in baseball history.

4 — deGrom's leaguewide rank in WHIP (0.91) among starting pitchers this season.

6 — His leaguewide rank in ERA (2.29) among starters.

20 — Combined starts by deGrom from 2022 through '24.

18 — Starts he has made this season.

15 — Starts in which he has allowed two or fewer runs in 2025.

14 — Consecutive starts in which deGrom went at least 5 innings while allowing two or fewer runs, which lasted from April 18 through July 7. It was the longest such streak in the American League since 2014.

97.4 — Average miles per hour of deGrom's four-seam fastball in 2025, which ranks fourth among qualified starters in MLB. A reminder: he's 37 years old.

Injuries cost deGrom the better part of four seasons, but that shouldn't taint his legacy. He remains one of the best pitchers of his generation and has reminded everyone of his greatness again this season.

His first All-Star selection since 2021 might be deGrom's greatest, given all he's been through in the past four seasons. He's back where he belongs, among the best pitchers in the sport.

In 2021, to the dismay of their fans, the Chicago Cubs sent shortstop Javier Baez to the New York Mets via trade. Unbeknownst to Cubs fans at the time, the next face of the franchise was coming back.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been the heart and soul of Chicago this year as the team jumped out to a 44–28 start—a record that, if sustained over a full season, would be the franchise's best since it won the World Series in 2016.

The 23-year-old Sherman Oaks, Calif., native has gone from a capable everyday player to a bona fide National League MVP candidate, and he showed the baseball world why Tuesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

First, he made a diving catch to rob Brewers second baseman Brice Turang of a hit.

Then, he bashed a 452-foot solo home run that struck Wrigley Field's right-field scoreboard.

The Cubs won 5–3 Tuesday, and would seem to have bigger and better victories in their future.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Fortaleza recebe o Maracanã neste domingo (17), pela partida de volta da semifinal do Cearense. A bola vai rolar a partir das 17h (de Brasília), na Arena Castelão, em Fortaleza, com transmissão do Canal GOAT no YouTube.

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✅FICHA TÉCNICA
FORTALEZA X MARACANÃ
SEMIFINAL (2º JOGO) – CAMPEONATO CEARENSE

Data e horário: domingo, 17 de março de 2024, às 17h (de Brasília)
Local: Arena Castelão, em Fortaleza
Onde assistir: Canal GOAT (YouTube)
Arbitragem: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (árbitro); Renan Aguiar da Costa e Francisco Marcondes Mendes Simão (auxiliares); Elizabete Esmeralda (quarto árbitro); César Magalhães (VAR)

PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
FORTALEZA (Técnico: JUAN PABLO VOJVODA)
João Ricardo; Tinga, Brítez, Cardona e Bruno Pacheco; Zé Welison, Kauan e Kervin; Pikachu, Moisés e Lucero.

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MARACANà(Técnico: JÚNIOR CEARENSE)
Leo Recife; Zé Augusto, Igor Ribeiro, Guilherme e Matheus Maranguape; Rogério, Vinícius Canindé e Patuta; Testinha, Pio e Júnior Mandacaru.

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Campeonato CearenseFortalezaFutebol Nacional

أفادت تقارير صحفية أن ليفربول أصبح يضع عينه على أحد الأجنحة اللامعة، حيث يبحث عن التعاقد مع بديل للنجم المصري محمد صلاح.

ومن المحتمل أن يرحل محمد صلاح عن ملعب أنفيلد، وقد يوجه ليفربول بوصلته إلى برادلي باركولا جناح باريس سان جيرمان بجانب جناح أنطوان سيمينيو لاعب بورنموث.

وبحسب “Caughtoffside” فإنه ورغم مراقبة ليفربول لموقف باركولا مع باريس سان جيرمان، إلا أن النادي الفرنسي يفضل حالياً الإبقاء على لاعبه الشاب.

وقد يعمل باريس سان جيرمان خلال الفترة القادمة على تمديد عقد باركولا صاحب الـ23 عاماً والذي ينتهي عقده الحالي في عام 2028.

اقرأ أيضاً.. الدوري الأمريكي عن ضم محمد صلاح: عليه التحدث مع ميسي

ومع ذلك فإن صفقة انتقال باركولا إلى صفوف ليفربول قد تكون واقعية، حيث لم يتمكن اللاعب من حجز مكان أساسي في تشكيل باريس سان جيرمان بسبب المنافسة الشديدة في فريق المدرب لويس إنريكي لذا قد يبحث عن الانتقال لوجهة أخرى.

وقد يلعب باركولا دوراً محورياً في ليفربول ليحل محل محمد صلاح، وقد تكون هناك أندية كبيرة أخرى مثل مانشستر يونايتد مهتمة بالحصول على خدمات اللاعب.

جدير بالذكر أن باركولا سجل ستة أهداف وصنع خمس تمريرات حاسمة في جميع المسابقات مع باريس سان جيرمان وفرنسا هذا الموسم.

Leeds United have proved to be more than a match for Premier League football and now have growing confidence they can seal a statement deal at Elland Road in January.

Leeds move forward after pivotal victory over West Ham

Daniel Farke has had his doubters in the top-flight and some reservations will always remain after his previous spell in the division with Norwich City. However, there can be no doubt that he has made the Whites a competitive force at the highest level.

Claiming 11 points inside nine matches, Leeds find themselves in a decent position to kick on after a much-needed victory over West Ham United on Friday, which may be symbolic in a way as the Hammers slide further towards the bottom of the table.

Either way, there is a long way to go and nobody will be getting ahead of themselves. Still, Farke singled out his players for the determination they showed to ensure three points were claimed in front of a raucous home crowd against Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

He said, via BBC Sport: “First of all, I’m delighted to take the three points. It is difficult to explain how we were standing there after the last three games with one point. We had much more domination and controlled the performance. We had a difficult week, in terms of illnesses and injuries.

“It was a difficult week for us. You could feel it. We showed passion and bravery. In the last 20 minutes you could feel it was a difficult week. A big fighting spirit, will and passion to bring it over the line.”

Come the January window, Leeds could make a move for Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Issouf Sissoko and may look to his displays in Champions League qualifying matches as an indicator of his potential.

With the engine room a key priority, Farke and company are now said to be growing in confidence that they can sign an experienced international in mid-season.

Leeds could land Piotr Zielinski in January

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Leeds are hoping to sign Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski in January as the Serie A giants are now ‘definitely’ open to sanctioning his departure.

The reporter said: “He was linked with Leeds in the summer window and they were linked with a couple of other midfielders as well. He is well down the pecking order at the San Siro. He’s struggled for game time, had just two starts in the Champions League, so he’s not started a Serie A game.

Appearances

47

Goals

2

Assists

4

“Inter are definitely open to his departure to try and save some money and boost their own transfer coffers. Whether they’ll be able to sell Zielinski to Leeds, that remains to be seen. He’s 31 now, but I still feel he’s got a lot to offer and the player himself would be interested in a move away in January in search of regular first team football. If he’s not going to be getting that at Inter, he will maybe seek a move away.”

In a campaign where he has struggled for starts, the Poland international has still managed to create three chances in 167 minutes of Champions League football, per Fotmob, illustrating his capacity to cause danger.

While his £139,000 per week wages would be an expensive commitment, they are probably not out of the Whites’ budget, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Zielinski were to end up at Elland Road.

Eddie Howe will hope a late 2-1 win picked up over the weekend by his Newcastle United troops spurs his side onto a positive patch of form in the Premier League.

It’s been a bumpy campaign so far for the Toon, with three wins, three draws, and three defeats collected in league action. But, with two home wins on the spin now in the challenging terrain of the top-flight, the time is surely right for the Magpies to make strides up the early league standings, away from their current middle-of-the-road 11th position.

Bruno Guimaraes would be showered with praise come the full-time whistle against Fulham, as his quick thinking to be alert to a spill from Bernd Leno saw him slot home a late rebound to seal a 2-1 win.

But, he isn’t the only star capable of such joyous moments in Howe’s talented camp, with Nick Woltemade sticking out as another noticeable bright spark, even if his new side hasn’t been picking up victories galore since he arrived from Stuttgart.

Why Woltemade is already key for Newcastle

The 6-foot-6 menace didn’t get on the scoresheet against Marco Silva’s visitors, but he was still lively in spurts against the Cottagers.

Indeed, Woltemade would smack the post with an effort that looked to be heading goalbound after just four minutes had been played, with the commanding number 27 also putting his towering frame to good use when shoving off Fulham defenders to play in the likes of Anthony Gordon and others next to him in the attacking positions.

Woltemade was at the heart of Harvey Barnes’ strike mid-week, too, with an audacious flick ending in the ex-Leicester City man confidently firing home this effort in the Champions League.

This is before you even mention that the clinical 23-year-old also has four Premier League goals next to his name already, with the decision to fork out a steep £69m on the ex-Bundesliga goal machine looking to now be a smart one, particularly as Newcastle desperately needed a potent marksman to fill the hole left behind by Alexander Isak.

However, as much as Woltemade has stood out as an influential presence so far, he isn’t the only ace in attack capable of altering games at a moment’s notice, with this other gem at Howe’s disposal also now being lauded for being a game-changing spark.

Howe has unearthed a new "game-changer"

Howe very much had the options on his substitutes bench to thank for the Fulham game being turned on its head in the final moments.

The 47-year-old looked to both Fabian Schar and Sandro Tonali late on as injuries and tired legs crept into his XI, while the ex-AFC Bournemouth boss was also well-equipped to throw on William Osula in place of Woltemade for the final exchanges, knowing that he would terrorise the away side’s fatigued defence with his unbounded energy, with journalist Jordan Cronin even going as far as to state that he was a “game changer” on the day.

Without the Dane’s frightening energy, Newcastle might well have just settled for a share of the points.

Instead, with Osula managing to tally up two shots from his short-lived cameo and two recoveries of the ball to push his fading team up the pitch, a much-needed win was dramatically secured, with the “chaotic” 22-year-old the “perfect” player to mount such a late comeback, according to Newcastle-based writer Thomas Hammond.

The Denmark U21 international has had to become content with being an impact player for the Toon, with 34 of his 44 Premier League appearances to date on Tyneside coming from off the bench.

Still, it suits the forceful number 18’s game, with Osula even being referred to previously as a “poor man’s Haaland” by his ex-teammate in Curtis Davies, for how dangerous he can be in a flash.

Osula will just want to keep plugging away at St James’ Park, with the attacker who works “tirelessly” for his team’s cause, as Howe put it, very much in the Newcastle good books currently, next to Woltemade.

Newcastle star who's in “form of his life” is as undroppable as Guimaraes

This Newcastle United star has now made himself as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes after another fine display on Saturday.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 26, 2025