He is targeting Ireland’s ODI series in Bangladesh next month and expects to play in the IPL thereafter
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Feb-2023
Josh Little hopes to play in the IPL starting March 31•Abu Dhabi T10
Ireland’s left-arm quick Josh Little will miss the Pakistan Super League (PSL) through injury and has returned home for treatment.Little, 23, was due to play for Multan Sultans in the PSL. He experienced hamstring tightness while representing Pretoria Capitals in the SA20, and Cricket Ireland said that he had returned home “out of an abundance of caution”.Defending IPL champions Gujarat Titans had signed Little for INR 4.4 crore (€500,000 approx) at December’s auction, making him the first active Ireland player purchased in the competition.He is expected to return to fitness in time to fulfil his contract, and is targeting Ireland’s three-match ODI series in Bangladesh next month as a possible return.Mark Rausa, Ireland’s head of sport science, physiotherapy and medical services, said: “Josh reported experiencing some tightness in his hamstring towards the end of his time in the SA20 League.”After reporting this to medical staff at Pretoria Capitals, he was sent for an ultrasound scan that was inconclusive. Out of an abundance of caution, Josh decided to return home for further tests and treatment with the Cricket Ireland medical team.”An MRI scan showed no significant injury in the hamstring, but he will remain in Dublin to complete a course of rehab, strength and conditioning and bowling workload management in preparation for the Indian Premier League (IPL) beginning the end of March, and a subsequent busy period of International cricket for Ireland.”Ireland’s ODI series in Bangladesh will begin on March 18, followed by the T20Is that will go on till March 31, the same day the IPL kicks off with Titans taking on Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad.
Matt Renshaw earlier converted into a century while all the Australia A middle order chipped in
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2023
Wes Agar made a mark with the new ball (file photo)•Getty Images
Wes Agar and Spencer Johnson made early inroads for Australia A on the second day in Lincoln before the New Zealand A middle order fought back.The visitors had declared at tea on 370 for 6 which included a hundred from Matt Renshaw alongside half-centuries for Tim Ward and captain Nathan McSweeney.Related
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It did not take long for Agar, who played two ODIs in 2021, to strike with the new ball when he found the outside edge of both openers, Sean Solia and Henry Cooper, during his opening spell.Johnson, the left-arm quick who has had a rapid rise this season after breakout performances for Brisbane Heat and South Australia, was more wayward – he sent down a bouncer that went for five wides in his first over and twice left wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson unable to prevent four byes – but when he returned for a second spell he had Dean Foxcroft caught on the leg side.That left New Zealand A in trouble on 47 for 3, but captain Tom Bruce and Cole McConchie stitched together an unbroken stand of 62 until bad light brought an early close.Mitchell Swepson’s seven-over spell was his first bowl in first-class cricket since early December since when he played the BBL and was then an unused member of the Test squad in India.Australia A had resumed on 155 for 1 and Renshaw converted his 92 into a second consecutive hundred for the A side after the one he made against West Indies in Canberra, playing under the Prime Minister’s XI name.He eventually fell for 112, trapped lbw from round the wicket by Scott Kuggeleijn, and when Ward might have had visions of joining him with a hundred he lost his off stump shouldering arms to Solia.All of the middle order chipped in as Australia A scored at a decent rate during the afternoon – the 60-run stand between Peirson and Campbell Kellaway coming in under 12 overs.
He’s taken a step closer to realising his dream, a year after Rohit predicted he would be an all-format player for India “pretty soon”
Himanshu Agrawal06-Jul-2023
Tilak Varma lines up a shot to the leg side in Duleep Trophy•PTI
In May 2022, Rohit Sharma had forecasted that Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Varma would be an India player very soon. “Having such a calm head is never easy, and in my opinion, I feel he’s going to be an all-format player for India pretty soon,” Rohit had said. “He’s got the technique, and he’s got the temperament, which is the most important thing when you play at the highest level.”Just over a year later, Varma has moved a step closer to the India cap. The 20-year-old was named as part of India’s young-looking squad for the upcoming five T20Is against West Indies, something he wasn’t yet dreaming about.”I was not thinking about the national side,” Varma, who is representing South Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru, said after the second day’s play against North Zone. “My mom and dad were crying on video call yesterday; they were very emotional. My childhood friend called me [saying] you have got selected. That was the time – around 8 o’clock [pm] – that I knew I was selected.”Related
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Other than his captain Rohit, Mumbai’s set-up also includes former India batter Sachin Tendulkar, who even dined at Varma’s place during the IPL. And Varma, on his part, didn’t let go of the opportunity to get some advice out of the two experienced players.”I have heard a lot from Rohit and Sachin sir, and also from Virat [Kohli] . They always tell that when you are in good form, your subconscious mind is in the right place,” Varma said. “They also tell me to play close to the body… they always tell that [preparing] off the field is very important.”Varma smashed 343 runs in this year’s IPL, where he struck at 164. Only two Indian batters, Suryakumar Yadav and Ajinkya Rahane, had a better strike rate for those to have hit at least 300 runs this season, even as Varma’s debut IPL season in 2022 fetched him 397 runs. He already dreams about delivering in a World Cup, even if he wasn’t thinking about an India call-up just yet.”I visualise every night how I can bat: if in a World Cup match, we are four or five down for 40 or 50, from there on, how can I take the team forward? It helps in making it easy for me,” Varma said.With the next T20 World Cup less than a year away, Varma’s technique and temperament, as highlighted by Rohit, might as well see him doing that there and then. Only time will tell if he can translate his success in IPL to international cricket.
Offspinner fills gap created after Nathan Lyon was made unavailable
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2024
Chris Green has previously played in the Blast for Middlesex and Birmingham Bears•Getty Images
Lancashire have announced the signing of Australia spinner Chris Green for the Vitality Blast. Green will replace Nathan Lyon in Lancashire’s plans after Cricket Australia revoked clearance for Lyon to play white-ball cricket during his spell in England.Green, 30, made his name as a T20 specialist adept at bowling with the new ball – although he made a first-class debut in 2022 and has played for New South Wales over the last two Sheffield Shield seasons. He has T20 experience around the world, notably in the Big Bash and Caribbean Premier League, and has had three previous stints in the Blast, representing Birmingham Bears and Middlesex.Green made his T20I debut for Australia in December but is not expected to be part of their T20 World Cup plans.”Following the news that Nathan would no longer be available to play T20 for us, Dale [Benkenstein] and I were really keen to ensure that when going back into the market for an overseas replacement, they would have full availability across both group stage blocks in the Blast which we believe is important to get some continuity in the team,” Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, said.”The attraction with Chris was his full availability combined with his skillset – which is the ability to bowl spin across all phases of the game – and also his batting as Chris has become really effective towards the back end of an innings, an area in which we felt the team could do with a bit of strength.”Chris is also a really experienced campaigner, captain of Sydney Thunder in the BBL, and at times we may field a young T20 side this year so adding experience in that format will be a real help for us.”Across 200 games of T20, Green has taken 164 wickets with an economy of 7.03. He took over the Sydney Thunder captaincy for 2023-24 but saw the team finish bottom, winning just one of their ten games.Green said: “I am really pleased be joining Lancashire for this year’s Vitality Blast and can’t wait to meet up with my new team-mates next month. It’s a really strong squad at Lancashire and after speaking with Mark Chilton and Dale Benkenstein ahead of signing, I am really excited about what we can achieve together this summer.”I have really enjoyed my previous experiences of playing in the Blast in England and I am looking forward to heading to Manchester and playing at Emirates Old Trafford for the first time.”
Rangers’ bonkers form continues. Last weekend, the Gers fought back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 at , with Tom Lawrence’s long-range laser equalising nine minutes from time, before Cyriel Dessers snatched victory right at the death for Barry Ferguson’s side.
So, since Barry Ferguson took over as interim manager, the Gers have lost at home to Motherwell, ousted Fenerbahce on penalties in the Europa League and claimed victories on the road at Kilmarnock, Celtic and now Dundee, these three fixtures producing a whopping 18 goals.
Next up in the Premiership, the Gers face third-placed Hibs and then Aberdeen, who are fourth, at Pittodrie, with the small matter of a Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club on the agenda too; the Basque side visit Ibrox next Thursday.
Who knows what to expect from these four matches? Well, goals probably.
What are the 49ers' summer plans for Rangers?
2025 is set to be a huge year of change for Rangers, starting with the fact manager Philippe Clement was sacked back in February after 86 matches in charge.
Meantime, the club is also subject to a takeover, with Paraag Marathe, President of 49ers Enterprises, set to become the club’s majority shareholder, a deal that is reportedly currently still being finalised.
His first task, as alluded to, will be to appoint a new permanent manager, with Steven Gerrard, Sean Dyche, Kevin Muscat, Liam Rosenior, Kjetil Knutsen, Marco Rose and many others reportedly in the fray.
Well, whoever they choose to appoint, they’ll want to do so quickly, given that next season starts early for the Light Blues, kicking off with the first leg of a crucial Champions League qualifying tie on 22 or 23 July.
Meantime, the squad is likely to undergo a major rebuild, and one fans’ favourite in particular appears highly-likely to depart.
Which players could leave Ibrox in the summer
Three permanently contracted players could be on their way out of the Glasgow club this summer, notably Tom Lawrence and Leon Balogun, while it’s unlikely attacking hero Vaclav Cerny will be back next season, largely due to his price tag after some cracking form.
Another who finds himself out of contract in June is Ianis Hagi, set to leave the club as a free agent this summer.
It’s fair to say the Romanian’s Rangers career has had its ups and downs, scoring a spectacular brace shortly after arriving against Braga in the Europa League, on a night the Gers fought back from 2-0 down to win, sparking wild celebrations at Ibrox.
When he signed from Genk in January 2020, then-manager Steven Gerrard labeled him “one of the best talents in Europe” but it hasn’t quite happened for him in Light Blue.
Indeed, despite being at the club for over five years now, Hagi has made just 125 appearances for the club, largely due to the fact that he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Stirling Albion in January 2022, spending the next 372 days on the sidelines.
Then, after not being in Michael Beale’s plans, the Romanian spent last season on loan at Deportivo Alavés in Spain before being reintegrated into the first-team squad this season, albeit he’s lost his regular starting spot since Ferguson took over from Clement.
Ianis Hagi’s Rangers career by season
Seasons
Appearances
Goals
Assists
2019/20*
13
3
2
2020/21
46
8
15
2021/22
27
4
4
2022/23
11
1
Zero
2023/24**
2
Zero
Zero
2024/25
25
3
7
*joined in January. **26 appearances out on loan
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt
As the table outlines, Hagi has not been a regular in the Rangers side since that aforementioned knee injury in January 2022, until recently, albeit he hasn’t been especially productive in front of goal since the title-winning campaign of 2020/21.
As a result, his Transfermarkt value has plummeted to £1.69m, having been as high as £6m at one stage, significantly lower than the reported £4.5m paid to secure his services in the first place.
Thus, given his injury record, Rangers should sadly release Hagi in the summer as part of their squad rebuild.
49ers must axe Rangers dud who Ferguson said could "become a big player"
Rangers must finally cash in on the lightweight who is worth even less than Tom Lawrence and Ianis Hagi.
With Matheus Cunha likely to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, those in the Midlands have reportedly made their first move to sign an attacking addition in what would be a shock deal.
Cunha fuels Wolves exit rumours
When Cunha put pen to paper on a new deal at Molineux back in January, there may have been some initial hope that he would stay put once more when the summer transfer window arrives. A closer look at that new deal quickly revealed a release clause reportedly worth around £63m, however, and the speculation has been coming thick and fast ever since.
Wolves now ready to accept loss and sell player in £25m Molineux exit
It could be their last chance to receive a high fee.
ByCharlie Smith Apr 3, 2025
As if a departure didn’t seem inevitable enough, the forward only added fuel to the fire with his recent comments, saying: “I had a lot of offers but I wouldn’t feel well if I had done it. Some things you can’t control but I couldn’t leave the club in the middle of the season, in a difficult situation, in the relegation zone.
“Now, we’re close to achieving our goal [of staying up]. But I’ve made it clear that I need to take the next step. I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential.”
Whilst he has since added further clarity to his comments, claiming that he wants to take Wolves to that next level, it’s fair to say that Cunha far from helped put out the fire that is likely to be an ongoing transfer saga.
Amid reported interest from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, the time will come when the Wolves star has a decision to make over his future. And unlike in January, that decision could result in a departure away from Molineux.
It’s then that Wolves will need to seek an instant replacement, which could yet see them land one of the most surprising deals of the summer transfer window.
Wolves express interest in signing Sancho
If Wolves are to replace Cunha then they must turn towards a big name and Jadon Sancho is certainly that. According to Football Transfers, Wolves have now expressed their interest in signing Sancho from Manchester United or, indeed, Chelsea is they decide to reluctantly keep hold of their obligation to buy the struggling winger.
Once a player worth £73m when he swapped Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United, Sancho now represents a risky that Wolves must take their time to consider. Sancho failed at a place that many have done in recent years in Old Trafford, but whether the same excuse can be afforded during his Chelsea spell is still up for debate.
Wolves can’t afford to get things wrong when replacing Cunha, either. They must ask the question whether Vitor Pereira will be the manager to finally get the best out of Sancho again. And if the answer is a resounding no, then they must avoid making the same transfer mistake that United and Chelsea made in recent years.
Despite being described as “special” by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca in October, Sancho has since struggled to make his mark at Stamford Bridge and a summer switch to Wolves may not result in a turnaround in form.
While the Premier League season has rather petered out for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, the future remains bright for a football club that is still very much on the rise.
Of course, they will be disappointed at the way they fell behind Liverpool in the race for the title but their remarkable 3-0 win over Real Madrid last week sent a message around the continent that the Gunners are a mighty fine team, even when they aren’t at full strength.
Last week, Declan Rice’s free-kick heroics ensured that Arteta’s men head to the Bernabeu this week in pole position to seal a semi-final spot.
However, they managed to do so without Kai Havertz and Gabriel, only making the achievement even more incredible.
That result was one of the greatest the Emirates has ever been and new sporting director, Andrea Berta, certainly needs to build on that over the summer. It could have been just the message his various transfer targets needed.
Arsenal's summer transfer plans
The biggest priority for Berta this summer will be strengthening the forward line.
Alexander Isak is the dream acquisition but reportedly valued at somewhere around £150m, it makes any deal pretty impossible to complete.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As a result, Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres could be the player they turn to with The Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting a few weeks ago that he is the leading target.
However, they may also strengthen in midfield with Ornstein providing the latest on their pursuit of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi over the weekend.
Speaking on the Athletic podcast, he admitted that Arsenal are “expecting” to sign the Spanish midfielder in the summer, having done a lot of work on a possible transfer.
A move could cost in the region of £51m, the release clause in Zubimendi’s contract at La Real.
How Zubimendi would fit into Arsenal's midfield
At the end of the season, Thomas Partey and Jorginho’s contracts will expire, hence Arsenal’s desire to sign a new midfielder.
Jorginho – now just a bit-part of the side – won’t be a huge miss on the field but it’s safe to say the Gunners may miss Partey a little bit more.
He’s proven his worth, particularly in recent weeks, delivering a stand-out performance against Real Madrid last Tuesday and scoring against Brentford on Saturday evening.
During that thrilling win over Carlo Ancelotti’s side, no midfielder completed their passes at a more successful rate than Partey’s 93.8%. Furthermore, only William Saliba on both sides completed more carries.
Partey vs Real Madrid
Metric
#
Match rank
Passes completed
62
2nd
Pass success %
93.8%
3rd
Passes into final 3rd
5
3rd
Attempted take-ons
3
3rd
Carries
48
2nd
Tackles won
3
3rd
Stats via FBRef.
That said, in Zubimendi, they won’t be signing a replacement for Partey. He only ranks in the top 57% of midfielders in Europe’s big five leagues for progressive carries.
Instead, they would be replacing Jorginho’s role as a tempo-setter and conductor of play. Zubimendi ranks among the best 7% of midfielders in Europe for touches in the defensive penalty area and the top 16% for tackles in the attacking third, indicating that he likes to come short towards the defence but also that he likes to press high up.
As a result, this transfer is likely to mean that Rice’s days as an out-and-out holding midfield player are numbered. While that may have looked like a bad thing at the start of the season, the idea of placing Zubimendi alongside the club’s record signing is a salivating one.
Indeed, Rice has done a lot of his best work in the no.8 role this season, playing further forward and impacting games in the final third.
His attacking traits are improving all the time and that has been abundantly clear over the last week. Those two free-kicks against Madrid were a sign that his ball striking would be put to good use in a more advanced role while the way he galivanted forward for Partey’s goal against Brentford summed up why Arteta is keen to use him further forward.
Rice broke quickly from a Bees corner, beating one man and then surging into the opposition half like a racehorse, devastatingly darting towards goal and then playing the ball at exactly the right time.
That type of line-breaking carry would rarely be seen if he was playing in a holding role but the arrival of Zubimendi would give Rice the license he truly needs to establish himself as one of the game’s most elite midfielders.
100% duels won, 94% passing: Arsenal star is now as undroppable as Rice
Arsenal failed to overcome Brentford on Saturday evening.
Arsenal are now in the race to sign a “spectacular” £85m forward who’s been likened to Gabriel Martinelli, but there is set to be competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.
Gunners set sights on new winger
With the summer transfer window edging ever closer, it is becoming clear that Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his attacking options this summer, and a top-level striker is believed to be of particular interest.
RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku are all on the shortlist, with the latter player also capable of playing out wide, which is another area in which Arteta is looking to strengthen.
The Gunners have set their sights on two wingers who have been impressing in La Liga this season, namely Barcelona’s Raphinha and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, but there has now been a suggestion they may also take a risk on an up-and-coming Serie A star.
Talks held: Arsenal open negotiations to sign "amazing" 20 y/o wonderkid
The Gunners have set their sights on a defender, who they have followed for years.
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According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are now in the race to sign Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, but a deal will not be cheap, as the Serie A side are looking to hold out for a fee of €100m (£85m), given their determination to keep hold of the youngster.
There may also be fierce competition for Yildiz’s signature, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea also being named as potential suitors, which could make it difficult to get a deal over the line.
Juventus' KenanYildizcelebrates
The 19-year-old is touted as a potential replacement for Gabriel Martinelli, given the Brazilian’s inconsistent form this season, and there are signs the Juventus starlet could be a like-for-like replacement.
"Spectacular" Yildiz compared to Martinelli
Martinelli may have been inconsistent this season, but the winger has still put in some top-quality performances, recently scoring in the Gunners’ 2-1 victory over Real Madrid to progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
As such, it is a good sign that Yildiz has been compared to the 23-year-old by football scout Ben Mattinson, who said: “See a lot of similarities between Yıldız & Martinelli, not entirely the same but their finishing and dribbling style is similar.”
The Turkey international is enjoying an impressive campaign with Juventus, picking up eight goals and five assists, and he has previously received high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who lauded the starlet’s “high on-the-ball bravery to make spectacular solo runs”.
Yildiz clearly has a very bright future ahead of him, but there are doubts over whether his performances up to this point justify a £85m outlay, and with the youngster contracted until 2029, it may be very difficult to prise him away from Juventus.
A £70m Premier League forward is now “in the frame” to join Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to former scout Mick Brown.
Man Utd pursuing new forward
Scoring goals has been a major problem for Man United this season, with Ruben Amorim perhaps relying on Bruno Fernandes a little too often, and the manager has now set out to bolster his attacking options in the summer transfer window.
An out-and-out striker is of particular interest, and United have now held talks over the signing of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, which have progressed well, while they are also in the race for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha.
Cunha is keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, with the Red Devils working to finalise a deal soon, which means the next task may be to strengthen their wide options, and they have now set their sights on a Premier League winger.
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According to former scout Brown, in an interview with Football Insider, AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo is “definitely in the frame to join Man United this summer”, having caught the eye with his performances in the Premier League this season.
Brown said: “Man United have been impressed by Semenyo this season. He certainly didn’t do himself any harm with that performance on Sunday.
“He fits the bill of the type of player Ruben Amorim is looking for, he’s strong, quick, he’s got plenty of energy and works hard, he’s good in shooting situations and good in the air too.
Antoine Semenyo in Premier League action for Bournemouth.
“They’ll know all of that and they’ll know his weaknesses too from watching him this season.
“Amorim likes to play his 3-4-3 system, and Semenyo could fit into any of those three positions, so that’s another point in his favour.”
"Sensational" Semenyo shining for Bournemouth
It has been a steady rise to the top for Semenyo, who has worked his way up the English pyramid, spending time at Newport County and Bristol City before establishing himself as a key player for Bournemouth.
This season has been the Ghanaian’s best to date, picking up nine goals and six assists in the Premier League, most recently setting up Dean Huijsen’s equalising goal with a long throw in the Cherries’ 2-1 victory against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Brown believes the “sensational” 25-year-old would be a perfect fit in Amorim’s system, which could also make him an appealing option, with the manager in need of players capable of flourishing in his three-at-the-back formation.
Given his age, Semenyo’s best years could still be ahead of him, and his exploits in the Premier League this season indicate he could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, although the rumoured £70m price tag is a little on the expensive side.
Newcastle United fans are surely in dreamland at the moment, with their Magpies heroes in the driver’s seat now involving the ongoing Champions League race in the Premier League.
Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off versus Chelsea had all the ingredients of a high-stakes affair with both the Toon and the Blues heading into the game on 63 points each.
But, Eddie Howe’s men didn’t play with any nerves visible in their free-flowing game, meaning the Magpies are now sat in a pretty third position – only one point off Arsenal – after easing past Enzo Maresca’s men 2-0.
Both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes would steal the limelight on the day as the Newcastle goalscorers, with the fantastic midfield pairing looking ready made for Champions League football off the back of their polished displays.
Tonali and Guimaraes stole the show
In such a tense affair, the best possible mood setter would be to score early on.
Tonali certainly felt that way anyway when he gifted Howe’s hosts the lead after just two minutes, with the former AC Milan maestro managing to tap home after an inviting delivery into the box fell charitably at his feet.
Away from sending the home masses into delirium with the opening strike of the day, Tonali would continue to keep plugging away centrally with his boundless energy, leading to the standout number eight winning three ground duels.
On top of that, he was also on the lookout for an assist to complement his goal with two key passes tallied up, but no such moment would arrive.
Instead, Dan Burn would turn provider when teeing up Guimaraes for Newcastle’s game-clinching second, with the popular Brazilian also showing off his varied game – much like Tonali – when winning three duels, while registering two more shots past his fabulous late effort looping over Robert Sanchez.
But, there is another sensational forward player for Howe’s side that hasn’t even been mentioned yet who is slowly but surely turning into Newcastle’s next iteration of Nolberto Solano with his expert eye for an assist.
Newcastle's new version of Solano
The now retired right winger would consistently dazzle Premier League defences with his trickery when donning Magpies black and white.
He would also pick up assists by the bucket-load to back up his memorable showboating, with Solano’s assist haul of 15 in league action during the 1999/2000 season yet to be topped, until potentially now.
Jacob Murphy amazingly only finds himself three short of Solano’s bumper total in the here and now, with his 12th assist of the Premier League season to date the cross that Tonali very kindly finished off.
It’s been a remarkable campaign for the 30-year-old so far, considering he had only picked up eight assists last season when he was sparingly used 21 times in league action due to injury concerns. Now, he’s as crucial as Tonali and Guimaraes are in Newcastle’s exciting hunt for European glory.
Newcastle’s top five G/A contributors this season
Player
Games
Goals scored
Assists
1. Alexander Isak
33
23
6
2. Jacob Murphy
33
8
12
3. Harvey Barnes
31
9
4
4. Anthony Gordon
32
6
5
5. Bruno Guimaraes
36
5
6
Stats by Sofascore
Staggeringly, only Alexander Isak is able to surpass Murphy for goals and assists this season in the Premier League for the Magpies, with the ex-Norwich City man certainly living up to his next Solano label more when powering home eight goals from 33 games. In total, the silky Peruvian would pick up 48 strikes on Tyneside.
Murphy will hope he can get near to that sizeable tally soon, with the hard-working yet skilful winger another gem playing out of his skin for the Toon as Champions League football possibly reappears.
Howe thinks he's perfect: Newcastle make bid for "incredible" £21m maestro
The Magpies have submitted a significant offer for a new midfielder.