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Leeds United could be set to swoop for a new manager, in an effort to escape the Championship as soon as possible.

That's according to a report in The Times from earlier this week, which confirmed that Sam Allardyce would be leaving his post at Elland Road, having failed in his bid to retain their Premier League status.

With Andrea Radrizzani having also reached an agreement to acquire Sampdoria, yet unwilling to reveal whether he will be leaving Yorkshire too, it could be expected that the Italian will crave an instant promotion so that he can sell for the highest possible price next year.

In a bid to achieve this, the report also states that Steven Gerrard has emerged as the frontrunner for this vacancy. Given his latest spell in management, fans have every reason to be wary of this appointment.

Is Steven Gerrard worse than Jesse Marsch?

Whilst many fans could struggle to think of bosses that were worse than Jesse Marsch, given he arguably was the main factor in their relegation last term, it is perhaps easy to forget just how woeful the former Liverpool midfielder was in the Aston Villa dugout.

His team, which was one laden with quality such as Ollie Watkins, Emi Buendia and Douglas Luiz, had won just twice in 12 Premier League games before his dismissal, having been thumped 3-0 by Fulham to put the final nail in his coffin.

When delving deeper into his tenure at Villa Park, it was arguably as underwhelming as the American's at Elland Road, with the only difference between these huge clubs' respective fates being the timing of their sacking and the choice of successor.

After all, the 43-year-old would win just 13 matches across his 40 games in charge, at a points-per-game average of just 1.18, via Transfermarkt.

Whilst Marsch's dropped to 1.16 per match, having won 11 in 37, the gulf in talent between these two squads is startling.

Not only this, but Gerrard showcased a stubbornness that would simply not adapt well to the Championship. His narrow 4-3-3 formation, which was described as "poor" by Gabby Agbonlahor, often neglected wingers and was a philosophy he relentlessly stuck with despite the poor results.

The former RB Salzburg boss would emulate such a headstrong outlook, again retaining his failing formation until his final days.

Such was his underperformance with such a top team, journalist Josh Bunting even wrote an impassioned plea for Villa to dismiss the ex-Rangers manager back in October, claiming:

"Aston Villa need to do what’s right for the football club, can’t keep Steven Gerrard for his name-sake. Tonight again he’s lost in a tactical battle, Villa are so confusing you cannot read them, the attack is clueless when it has the potential to really work. The balance isn’t there."

The disparity between Gerrard and Marsch is almost non-existent, and given how Unai Emery would go on to lead that side to a European spot, the former's work is made all the more embarrassing. At the very least, both Javi Gracia and Allardyce failed to improve Leeds' disappointing squad.

Should Radrizzani remain incensed on appointing this young boss, he may well fall very short of earning that speedy return to the top flight that this great club craves. Indeed, he bares so many negative similarities with their former boss who doomed them to the drop.

Newcastle United are showing an interest potentially making a move for the Barcelona winger Raphinha this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Could Newcastle sign Raphinha?

The Tyneside club have enjoyed a real breakthrough season which currently has them sitting pretty up in third spot of the Premier League table.

Champions League is in touching distance with just four games remaining for Eddie Howe's side, but they will be looking to avoid any slip-ups with the likes of Liverpool breathing down their necks in fifth.

The prospect of playing on the elite European stage would not only see some of the biggest clubs in the world visit St James' Park, it would also free up more money for Newcastle to spend.

Indeed, as per the Financial Fair Play regulations, having a bigger revenue stream allows clubs to spend more and, therefore, this could boost their ability in the transfer market.

And they may need more room to spend if they are to pursue a player like Raphinha over the coming months given it was only last summer when he made that huge move to the Nou Camp.

Leeds United were able to rake in around £55m last year which has the potential to rise through add-ons.

But his time in Spain could be coming to an end, speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Romano has claimed the Toon are one of the sides who are interested in the Brazilian:

(32:00) "With Raphinha, it's not easy for Barcelona, because Raphinha is doing well. I think this was a positive season for Raphinha. Maybe not a fantastic season. But the positive season.

"From what I know, Xavi's very happy with him. So it's not easy for Barca to say: 'Okay, let's put Raphinha on the market'.

"But they could be open to letting him go in case they can bring [Lionel] Messi back because, with Raphinha, you can maybe make €80m/€85m/€90m (£69m-£78m) – Chelsea interest, Newcastle interest."

Do Newcastle need Raphinha?

The £208k-per-week star typically plays off the right wing as he cuts inside on his wicked left foot and this is a position which could possibly be up for grabs over the summer.

Indeed, casting your mind back just a few months ago, the spot on the right was all but tied up by Miguel Almiron.

The Paraguayan enjoyed a stunning start to the 2022/23 campaign which saw him find the back of the net nine times in the league alone as of Boxing Day (via Transfermarkt).

However, his form has fallen off a cliff since then – granted he has struggled with injuries – having scored just twice in the league since the turn of the year.

Jacob Murphy has filled in for the 29-year-old and has done a solid job with three goals in his last four outings in the Premier League (via Transfermarkt).

These are both players without experience in the Champions League and whether they are good enough to play at that level will remain in doubt.

However, Raphinha has gained European experience with Barca and has been able to offer four goal contributions across the Champions League and Europa League this season (via Transfermarkt).

Seb Stafford-Bloor has hailed the Brazilian as "magic" and perhaps this is the standard of player Newcastle should be looking at to bolster their side ahead of what will surely be a huge 2023/24 campaign.

Journalist Lee Ryder has praised Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes after his brilliant displays in the club's most recent game.

What's the latest on Bruno Guimaraes and Newcastle?

The Magpies did their hopes of finishing inside the top four and qualifying for the Champions League a world of good on Sunday afternoon.

Indeed, they blew away rivals Tottenham Hotspur inside the first 21 minutes of the Premier League game, racing to a shock 5-0 lead at St James' Park.

Joelinton's strike was sandwiched between a Jacob Murphy double before Alexander Isak also grabbed a brace before halftime. While in the second half, Callum Wilson and Harry Kane got on the scoresheet to see things end 6-1.

While it was the sort of game where a number of Eddie Howe's men seemed to put in near-perfect performances, the club's Brazilian midfielder really caught the eye.

Indeed, when writing his player ratings for ChronicleLive, Ryder handed Guimaraes and 9/10 and dished out some high praise.

The journalist wrote: "Was sparkling in the middle. United's pass master with 67."

How good was Guimaraes vs Spurs?

When you look at his stats (via SofaScore), it's not hard to see why Guimaraes has been dubbed as the club's "pass master." Indeed, he finished the game with a 90 per cent passing accuracy (the best on the pitch). He also made four key passes (only bettered by Keiran Trippier's five) and completed the highest amount of long balls with nine out of 11 attempted.

What's more, Guimaraes was also great at winning the ball back as he managed two tackles and won six ground duels, while also being fouled three times.

Ryder wasn't alone in his praise for the £120k-p/w midfielder either. Indeed, in the player ratings for Shields Gazette, Dominic Scurr handed him an 8/10 and wrote: "Anchored Newcastle’s midfield nicely despite taking a slight knock. His composure in possession made a big difference in the first half."

With all that in mind, it's safe to say the Magpies look almost certain to finish in the top four with their Brazilian midfielder leading the charge. When quizzed on this after the game, however, manager Howe refused to admit as much.

He told BBC Sport: "It's not for me to say. I saw a very good team playing today, two actually. But there's a lot of games to go and a lot of points to play for."

Rob Newton and Steven Crook hit centuries to bat Northamptonshire to a draw on the final day of the County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol

ECB Reporters Network25-May-2016
ScorecardSteven Crook played a defiant innings at No. 7•Getty ImagesRob Newton and Steven Crook hit centuries to bat Northamptonshire to a draw on the final day of the County Championship match with Gloucestershire at Bristol. Newton, unbeaten on 58 overnight, went on to make 108, off 234 balls with 18 fours, while Crook hit 103 not out before Gloucestershire called off their bowlers in the evening session.The visitors closed on 399 for 8, leading by 157, having batted with far more application than in the first innings. Adam Rossington contributed 39, despite clearly feeling discomfort from the finger injury he suffered while wicketkeeping on Monday, and Richard Gleeson a valuable 31.David Payne (3 for 72) was the pick of the Gloucestershire bowlers, but in general they erred on the short side. The hosts took 11 points from a game they had high hopes of winning at the start of the day, while Northants claimed seven.The visitors began the day on 120 for 3, trailing by 122. After the early loss of Richard Levi for 23, caught behind dabbing at a wide ball from Payne, Rossington helped Newton add 60 for the sixth wicket. Rossington,looked in pain against the quicker bowlers, but played well before miscuing the medium-pace of Kieran Noema-Barnett to mid-on where Payne took a good diving catch.Crook appeared to survive a chance to Roderick, standing up to Noema-Barnett, before he had scored and was unbeaten on 7 at lunch, while Newton headed off on 99 with plenty of time to contemplate his century, having looked untroubled.He brought up three figures by pulling the second ball after lunch, a juicy long-hop from left-arm spinner Graham van Buuren, for his 17th boundary. It was a chanceless hundred, but Newton then fell to the second new ball, which was taken with Northants 241 for 5, still one run behind.Five had been added when Payne found a way between Newton’s bat and pad with a full, swinging delivery, which rattled into his stumps. That brought in Seekkuge Prasanna, on his Championship debut. He immediately went on the counter attack, blasting 26 from 23 balls, including four fours and a six, before holing out to deep backward square, top-edging a short delivery from Payne.At that stage Northants led by only 52, but Gleeson then joined Crook in a match-saving stand. Crook was unbeaten on 82 at tea, with his side 357 for 7 and leading by 115.The final session produced more frustration for Gloucestershire on a pitch offering little assistance. Crook reached a brilliant hundred with successive boundaries off Josh Shaw, having faced 127 balls and hit 17 fours. By the time Gleeson fell lbw to van Buuren for a hugely valuable 31, the partnership with Crook was worth 101 and Northants led by 153. Soon afterwards the players shook hands.

Rising Pune Supergiants – on the brink of elimination – will be desperate for a win when they take on an in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam

The Preview by Shashank Kishore09-May-2016

Match facts

Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)5:24

Match Day: Can R Ashwin spin things Supergiants’ way?

Big Picture

MS Dhoni is known for being a step ahead of the game, and yet in this IPL, he has been searching for answers. His team Rising Pune Supergiants have won only three out of 10 matches and a loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad, currently second on the points table, could leave them in the cold.Supergiants have four games left, and they can get to 14 points if they win them all. IPL history is replete with teams sneaking into the playoffs on 14 points. And even that may not be enough this year, given the huge differences in net run-rates. So a win on Tuesday is non-negotiable for Supergiants; they might not even be able to afford a rained-out fixture, which could well happen as the monsoon advances.Sunrisers, in their three years so far, have had to rely on late dashes to make the playoffs. This time, they have benefitted from their India internationals – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra and Shikhar Dhawan – complementing the overseas professionals to deliver plenty of match-winning performances. The return of Yuvraj Singh, whose 23-ball 39 lent the finishing touches to the Sunrisers’ innings against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, also augers well for the side.David Warner’s brazenness upfront has given Dhawan an opportunity to reconstruct his game, and his tactful use of Mustafizur Rahman, the team’s trump card, has elicited comparisons with how Lasith Malinga and Sunil Narine have been used at Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.Based on form, Sunrisers seem miles ahead, but Supergiants are at that stage where playing an uninhibited game seems their only option. Such teams generally tend to be dangerous.

Form guide

Rising Pune Supergiants LWLLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad WWWLW

In the spotlight

Originally considered a misfit in the shortest format, Usman Khawaja silenced the critics by becoming the second-highest run-getter in the 2015-16 Big Bash League despite playing just four matches. He was also Australia’s highest run-scorer at the World T20. Khawaja has had a couple of starts in the IPL, but hasn’t been able to build on them. Still his timing has been impeccable.Shikhar Dhawan has scored 294 runs in his last six innings, just 59 short of his entire tally in the 2015 season. That combined with his strike rate of 116.54 indicates the change in his role from a basher to an accumulator. That it has been a successful switch is clear from the fact that five of his last six knocks have resulted in wins.

Team news

A slew of injuries to their first-choice foreign players have left Supergiants with very little choices. The captain MS Dhoni is nursing a sore back and a tight hamstring but is likely to play. However, it is unclear if legspinner M Ashwin has recovered from the side strain that forced him out of their previous game on Saturday.So Adam Zampa, who had dismissed KL Rahul and AB de Villiers in the same over on IPL debut, may be given a longer run. There is a case for adding freshness to the seam attack by giving Irfan Pathan and Ishwar Pandey a game in place of Rajat Bhatia and RP Singh. The two bowlers finished with combined figures of 8-0-82-1 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Rising Pune Supergiants: 1 Ajinkya Rahane 2 Usman Khawaja 3 Saurabh Tiwary 4 MS Dhoni (capt, wk) 5 Thisara Perera 6 George Bailey 7 Rajat Bhatia/Irfan Pathan 8 R Ashwin 9 Adam Zampa 10 Ashok Dinda 11 RP Singh/Ishwar PandeyExpect Sunrisers to field an unchanged XI, barring last-minute injuries at training on match day. Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 David Warner (capt) 2 Shikhar Dhawan 3 Kane Williamson 4 Yuvraj Singh 5 Moises Henriques 6 Deepak Hooda 7 Naman Ojha (wk) 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar 9 Barinder Sran 10 Ashish Nehra 11 Mustafizur Rahman

Pitch and conditions

A fresh surface that encouraged pace and bounce was rolled out for Visakhapatnam’s tournament opener on Sunday. A 4pm start negated the effects of dew. However, with this being a night game and the high levels of humidity in coastal cities, the toss could be crucial.

Stats and trivia

• Sunrisers economy rate of 6.44 is the best among all teams in the Powerplays. An economy of 8.66 in the last five overs is marginally better than second-placed Kings XI Punjab, who concede an average of 9.12.
• Warner and Dhawan have put together three fifty-plus stands – 137*, 90 and 85 – in winning causes this season

Quotes

“A lot of people have asked me (about the India bowling coach job) but I haven’t thought about it. I’m still playing, and haven’t thought about what I will do after retirement. But let’s see. You never know, maybe one day.””I guess we are still quite clinging on to the fact that if we could put four games together and get across the line in a couple, then we are an outside chance to get through to the semi-finals. I have been in this situation before and got through, and I still believe we can have a go”

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fourth day at The Oval

George Dobell and Firdose Moonda at The Oval22-Jul-2012Dedication of the Day
With Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis both starting the fourth day with milestones imminent, emotion was guaranteed. Amla reached 200 with a perfectly-placed back-foot drive and celebrated long, but carefully. Kallis was more emphatic when he reached three figures. With arms raised he soaked in warm applause and then gestured to his eye with a small nod of the head. Although Kallis had pointed to his right eye instead of his left, it was a tribute to his best friend, Mark Boucher, whose left-eye injury forced him to retire at the start of the tour. Kallis and Boucher, friends for almost two decades, were the longest-serving members of the South African squad and also live next door to each other.Achievement of the Day
Before today, no South African batsman had scored 300 runs in a Test match. AB de Villiers’ 278 stood as the tallest mountain and when Hashim Amla went past him, De Villiers was shown on camera cheering him on. It took 35 balls from the time Amla broke that record to the time he brought up 300. There were some nerves when Tim Bresnan trapped him on the pads and appealed vociferously but otherwise his usual calm predominated. The milestone came with a drive through the covers, Amla’s signature shot of the innings. As he jogged down the pitch, he punched the air – a first for a usually understated man. The Oval crowd were on the feet for a full minute.Big call of the Day
Graeme Smith has been criticised for sometimes being too conservative. Today, he went the other way. At tea, with South Africa 252 runs ahead with eight wickets in hand and Jacques Kallis on 182, Smith decided they would bat no more. He gave his bowlers four sessions to bowl England out and left open the possibility that South Africa might have to chase a small target. With a series lead at stake, it was a daring move.Commitment of the Day
The score was 628 for 2 when James Anderson, rushing around the cover boundary, dived full length to turn what had appeared to be a certain four into a two. For a man who had bowled 41 overs – and not taken a wicket since his second – it was a fine effort. While such episodes were of small consolation, this was a day of little joy for England and such a moment at least hinted at the spirit, the fitness and the determination of Anderson and his colleagues.Stat of the Day
By the South Africa declared on 637 for 2, England’s bowlers had taken their last three Test wickets for a cost of 780 runs, in a period stretching back to the Edgbaston Test against West Indies where Tino Best and Denesh Ramdin added 143 for the tenth wicket. For the No. 1 Test side who pride themselves on possessing a fine bowling attack, that is a major stain on their record.Telling moment of the Day:
Some England supporters argued with gateman around the tea interval after demanding their money back. Their point, as far as it was possible to tell through the somewhat inebriated slurring of words, was that they had come to watch a game of cricket but had been bored by the lack of a contest. They argued in vain. While those supporting England might have been disappointed, the pleasure of watching Amla should have provided ample compensation.

It would be impossible to describe Tottenham Hotspur’s season as anything other than a failure this year.

Now, it’s true that Ange Postecoglou still has the chance to achieve something remarkable in the Europa League, but should that not happen, he’ll have overseen the club’s worst campaign in a generation – or two.

For example, in the Premier League alone, the North Londoners have lost 19 games, so reports suggesting he’ll get the sack regardless of what happens on the continent are hardly surprising.

Premier League

34

11

4

19

Europa League

12

7

3

2

FA Cup

2

1

0

1

League Cup

5

4

0

1

Total

53

23

7

23

One of the names most heavily touted for replacing the Australian in recent weeks and months has been Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, but another name has now been thrown into the ring: a manager who’d be a far better choice.

Tottenham's manager search

Before getting to the man in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other coaches who have been linked with the role, such as Marco Silva.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

It’s easy to see why the club might be interested in the Fulham boss, as since taking charge of the West Londoners in 2021, when they were in the Championship, he’s transformed them into a comfortably mid-table Premier League side.

A far more ambitious manager linked with the North Londoners has been Xabi Alonso.

The former Liverpool star led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title ever last season, and if that wasn’t impressive enough, he did it undefeated and won the DFB Pokal to boot.

However, it would appear as if Real Madrid might be keen to hire the Spaniard, making a move to Spurs feel incredibly unlikely, which isn’t the case with Oliver Glasner.

According to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, the Crystal Palace manager is one of the names on the list of potential successors to Postecoglou.

While it certainly wouldn’t be easy to get the Austrian coach out of Selhurst Park, it wouldn’t be impossible, and with how well he’d done in South London, he’d be worth the effort and a better option than Iraola.

How Glasner compares to Iraola

So, if it gets to a point at which Daniel Levy and Co need to make a decision between Glasner and Iraola in the coming weeks, why should they pick the former?

First, he’s already proven that he can win big prizes with teams who aren’t always expected to, as he led Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League glory in 2022, which was only their second major trophy since the 1987/88 season.

Moreover, he’s just got Crystal Palace into only their third FA Cup final and has completely transformed a number of their players, most notably Jean-Philippe Mateta.

For example, in the 22/23 campaign, the Frenchman scored just four goals in 33 games, but last season, that jumped up to 19 goals and six assists in 39 games, and this season, he’s already hit 17 goals and four assists in 41.

Finally, and this is important, despite taking over the Eagles when they were in relegation form, he has a better record with them than the Cherries boss has with his side.

Games

55

83

Wins

25

33

Draws

15

20

Losses

15

30

Points per Game

1.64

1.43

For example, since taking the job at Selhurst Park, the “incredible” 50-year-old, as dubbed by content creator James B, has won 25 games, drawn 15, lost 15 and averaged 1.64 points per game.

In contrast, the Spaniard has won 33 games, drawn 20, lost 30 and averaged 1.43 points per game on the south coast.

Ultimately, while both managers would probably be an improvement on Postecoglou, Glasner has the pedigree of winning major honours and has arguably overseen an even more impressive transformation of a struggling Premier League side than Iraola.

Postecoglou must now axe Spence to start "titanic" Spurs star

The talented ace could be just what Spurs need tonight.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 1, 2025

Over the years, Chelsea have unearthed a long list of stars from their academy who have gone on to establish themselves in the first-team picture.

It is a testament to the excellent facilities at Cobham that enable the Blues to continuously streamline talent into the senior setup year after year.

It is also remarkable that current first-team stars Levi Colwill, Reece James and Conor Gallagher don't scratch the surface of the obscene amount of quality that started crafting their legacy at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, the most famed world-beating talent known for beginning their careers in the underage groups at Chelsea are Jamal Musiala and Declan Rice; two players who would have perhaps helped the Premier League giants dominate for over a decade.

Those two are the biggest examples of ones that got away and while the Blues are prolific at unearthing more homegrown talent, they are also astute at poaching talent from lower league clubs in England – as has been the case with current academy sensation, Leo Castledine.

Leo Castledine's statistics at youth level

Chelsea poached the promising playmaker from AFC Wimbledon in 2020 after scouring the football league for the next potential star in the making.

'An attacking midfield player who has the ability to play box-to-box, he likes to create and score goals and is very tenacious in the tackle', as described by Chelsea's official website, Castledine's exceptional all-round attributes have seen him make a rapid rise through the underage groups at Stamford Bridge.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the 18-year-old showcased his versatility by operating in a number of positions, including as a deep-lying player, an attack-minded midfielder and even as a centre-back.

It is therefore impressive that the youngster managed 11 goals and two assists in 27 appearances after making the jump to under-21 level last term.

Dubbed a "huge talent" by journalist Felix Johnston, the teenager has continued making huge strides towards a first-team call-up this term by posting sensational numbers in Premier League 2.

In eight appearances, Castledine has chalked up an impressive four goals and six assists, including a glut of goals in victories over Blackburn Rovers and Fulham, with Mauricio Pochettino rewarding that form with a place on the bench in their 2-0 victory over Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

The above statistics also illuminate his prominence even further knowing he's currently supplying goals at a faster rate than first-team star Cole Palmer.

Cole Palmer's statistics this season

The 21-year-old starlet, who arrived from Manchester City in the summer, has become instrumental to the Blues creativity in the final third this term, much like Castledine.

With three goals and two assists in the Premier League, which means he's tied on five goal contributions with Nicolas Jackson, the Englishman has seamlessly slotted into various roles in Pochettino's system, namely cutting in from the right or floating in behind the Senegalese hitman.

The Argentine emboldened the above statement by offering huge adulation towards the youngster, praising him for how he's quickly adapted to life at Stamford Bridge.

He said: "He showed a great performance with character and personality,

"We are happy with the way he has arrived. He arrived on the last day of the transfer window but is playing like he’s been here ten years, showing his character and personality."

Palmer's close control and willingness to receive the ball in tight spaces have delighted the masses since he arrived at the club, with the youngster showing Pep Guardiola what he's missing out on.

Indeed, the £75k per-week whiz has now remarkably played more Premier League minutes for Chelsea than he did for Man City and while that's an impressive statistic on its own, the fact Castledine is outscoring such a talent is a testament to his boundless potential that Pochettino must unlock sooner rather than later.

Chelsea ace Cole Palmer has explained his decision to leave Manchester City last summer after leading the Blues to a 3-2 win over Newcastle on Monday.

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Palmer scores and assists against NewcastleUp to 26 goal contributions already for ChelseaExplains decision to leave City in the summerGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Palmer scored one and assisted another as he ended up being the standout Chelsea performer yet again on Monday night. The English forward saw his goalward effort flicked home for the first before he struck an absolute piledriver to make it 2-1 in the second half. Substitute Mykhailo Mudryk got in on the action late on with a fine solo effort that ended up being the decider, but it was Palmer who earned himself Player of the Match for his efforts. Speaking after the game he explained his decision to join the Blues, as he remains optimistic over the club's project.

AdvertisementWHAT PALMER SAID

The 21-year-old told after the full-time whistle: "I thought I was ready to play football week in, week out and that's the reason [I joined Chelsea]. I just wanted to showcase my ability and thankfully it has paid off. It was a very difficult decision to leave City, I was there since six years old. I was ready to play football, had a chat with my family, had a chat with the club and moved to Chelsea."

On the long-term project at Stamfort Bridge, Palmer issued a warning to any doubters: "I think there’s so much talent at Chelsea, the fans don’t see it, you guys [media] don’t see it. It’s only gonna get better I’m sure, if not next season the season after it’s a project, everyone’s young. You will see it sooner or later.”

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Palmer's goal and assist on Monday takes him to 19 goal contributions in the Premier League and 26 across all competitions this term. His signing, alongside perhaps that of Malo Gusto, remains the standout piece of business from the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital era, as time and again he has proven himself to be the difference maker for Chelsea. His displays have also given him an outside shot of an England call-up for Euro 2024. Those chances were dealt a significant boost on Monday as Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate was at Stamford Bridge to watch his masterclass against Newcastle.

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WHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

The England youngster will no doubt form a crucial part of Mauricio Pochettino's attacking line when they face Leicester in their next match, which comes in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday. Chelsea, alongside Wolves, were the only Premier League side to avoid a top-flight opponent in the last-eight, meaning they have a real chance of returning to Wembley for the second time in two months if they reach the semi-finals.

The bowler revealed his disappointment at Yorkshire’s decision to drop him during the Royal London Cup and will talk to other counties with his deal expiring this year

Melinda Farrell15-Jun-20181:16

England looking for a complete performance – Plunkett

Liam Plunkett has revealed his disappointment at Yorkshire’s decision to drop him during the Royal London Cup, shortly after his return from the IPL, and indicated he is open to moving to another county when his current deal expires. The comments follow on from David Willey’s revelation that Yorkshire threatened to tear up his contract when he signed with the Chennai Super Kings.Plunkett, in the final year of his county contract, made seven IPL appearances for Delhi Daredevils but following his return from India he told he was dropped by Yorkshire’s director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, for the 50-over fixture against Northamptonshire after he took 1 for 76 from eight overs against Lancashire earlier this month. Speaking ahead of England’s second ODI against Australia in Cardiff, Plunkett said he disagreed with Yorkshire’s assessment that he was “undercooked”.”Yes, I was disappointed,” Plunkett said. “I’d played the previous games and felt I went all right. We won the previous game, so I felt in a good place – but I had one bad performance, and if they want to drop me on that … They said I wasn’t ready, that I looked undercooked.”In what might seem an unusual sequence of events, days after being dropped for a domestic fixture Plunkett was selected in England’s playing XI to face Scotland in the same format. Yorkshire and then-coach Jason Gillespie were given credit for helping Plunkett resurrect his international career after leaving Durham in 2012, but he now appears set to move on.”I just felt I was getting back into it,” Plunkett said. “That was the decision they took … I feel I was coming into a good place and I feel I can help win games for Yorkshire so obviously I was disappointed and I let them know on that.”It’s my last year and I went in for a chat with Martyn Moxon, and obviously as you get a little bit older you maybe think about your base salary coming down and you’re playing for incentives and stuff but I didn’t really get offered anything. They just said we’ll look into it in the next month or so but it gives me a right to speak to other counties and it gives me that option and I’m looking to do that.”Plunkett, along with the rest of the England attack, was hammered by Scotland’s batsmen at The Grange, where he took 2 for 85, but after making changes to his run up he felt his rhythm return at The Oval.”I think in the IPL I came a little bit wider and tried to angle the ball in a little bit and skid it on to the batters,” he said. “But I think my strength is to be on top of the ball, use my bounce and bowl that hard length. I think when I came in I was trying to angle it in a little bit and I was bowling a few wides down the leg side.Liam Plunkett could be leaving Yorkshire when his contract expires•Getty Images

“I played against Lancs and struggled coming off it. So I just looked at a bit of video footage and in the last couple of games – especially the last game – I felt a lot better, I felt my timing came back and my lengths were getting better.”Even if Plunkett bowls well for the rest of the summer, he will relinquish his place in the ODI side for at least two of England’s matches in Sri Lanka in October, when he will marry his partner, Emeleah Erb. The couple set the wedding date before England’s tour dates were finalised.”We planned because originally it was a Test series that was there and I didn’t think I’d be around the Test squad,” Plunkett said. “It’s been eleven years, it’s been long enough so I thought I’d better get married.”We did look at schedules and the best time to do it. There were flights booked from America and a lot of guests coming over and everything was booked, so it was so hard to change it then.”I’m really excited to get married but I am going to miss part of that series. All I can do is try and do well for England this summer and be a part of that team and [make them] think well, he might miss a few games, can we get him for the rest of that Sri Lanka series and keep me in mind going forward.””I’m so excited and can’t wait for the day that I’m not going to change and ruin everything for her.”