South Africa's lead swells despite Williams' 137

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Williams scored more than half of Zimbabwe’s first-innings total but the visitors still took a 167-run lead and ended day two 216 ahead

Himanshu Agrawal29-Jun-2025Since 2020, Zimbabwe have had ten individual hundreds in Tests. Sean Williams alone has scored five of those. One of those centuries came against South Africa in Bulawayo on Sunday, and formed the centerpiece of Zimbabwe’s innings.South Africa declared their first innings on their overnight score of 418 for 9, and in reply, Zimbabwe were struggling at 23 for 2. Williams walked in at No. 4, and Zimbabwe’s woes were further compounded when Brian Bennett walked back due to a delayed concussion. Bennett was struck on the helmet by a Kwena Maphaka short-of-a-length delivery and while he faced three more balls, he decided he couldn’t continue any further and walked off.Related

  • Bennett walks off with concussion, Masvaure named replacement

From thereon, it was almost all about Williams. He found a little help from captain Craig Ervine, with the duo adding 91 runs. They got together with Zimbabwe 390 runs behind, and with Maphaka and debutant Codi Yusuf in good rhythm. Yusuf had Takudzwanashe Kaitano caught at backward short leg off his fifth ball in Tests, and Nick Welch edging behind to the wicketkeeper in his third over.Both of South Africa’s new-ball bowlers were extracting plenty of bounce and carry. South Africa may have opted to bowl on the second morning in anticipation of exactly that after they saw Zimbabwe’s quicks getting a lot of help from the surface in the first session on Saturday.Despite the early wickets and assistance for the seamers, Williams counterattacked. He got two early boundaries off Maphaka: one an outside edge flying past gully, and another a short-arm pull to deep-backward square leg. While Maphaka was taken for runs, Yusuf was much tighter: his in-between lengths drew the batters forward, and his line around the off stump checked the flow of runs.Zimbabwe however, ended the morning session without any further damage. Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch replaced the new-ball bowlers, and continued to test the batters with accurate lines and lengths. Ervine was especially cautious, managing just nine runs off his first 44 balls. But he dispatched his second boundary when he cut hard at a short and wide delivery from Bosch in the 19th over, and that seemed to have injected some momentum into Zimbabwe’s innings.Sean Williams and Craig Ervine steadied Zimbabwe with a 91-run stand•Zimbabwe Cricket

Both Ervine and Williams found success by punching or slashing the ball behind – and in front of – square on the off side. Zimbabwe were chipping away with that partnership before Keshav Maharaj made things happen. He beat Williams after tossing one up at him in the 24th over, and could have had him stumped on 40 had Kyle Verreynne not fumbled on the first attempt.After lunch, with the ball turning into him, Williams decided to use the sweep against Maharaj. One of those attempts saw the ball pop up off his forearm, and just behind the slip fielder. Finally, it was Maharaj who broke through. Ervine skipped down the pitch to Maharaj, who floated one full and wide of off. Ervine, on 36, missed, and this time Verreynne flicked the bails off in time.Thereafter, it was all about the remaining batters playing a supporting role for Williams. Wessly Madhevere confidently swung Maharaj for six over long-on early in his innings, with the South Africa captain being attacked by Williams as well. Williams faced 52 balls from the left-arm spinner and scored 43 runs – a strike rate of 82.69 – including five boundaries.Twice Williams advanced down the pitch to convert potential length deliveries into full tosses, and heaved them away to the deep-midwicket boundary. Mulder trapped Madhevere for 15 in the 43rd over, but Williams remained firm. Four overs later, Williams got to his sixth Test hundred – the joint second-highest by a Zimbabwe batter – but next ball, saw Prince Masvaure, the concussion substitute for Bennett, edge Mulder behind.Wiaan Mulder finished with figures of 4 for 50•Zimbabwe Cricket

Mulder got his third when he had Tafadzwa Tsiga balloon a leading edge to point in the 49th over. Yusuf bagged his third wicket soon after when Wellington Masakadza got a faint tickle behind to Verreynne. At that stage, Zimbabwe were 217 for 7, still two runs short of avoiding the follow-on. But Williams comfortably got them past that mark in the company of Vincent Masekesa, who blocked and dabbed much to South Africa’s frustration.Williams’ stay ended at 137 when Maharaj had him stumped for Verreynne’s fifth dismissal of the innings. Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani and Tanaka Chivanga added only two more runs from that point, as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 251, leaving South Africa 167 runs ahead in the first innings.Despite falling behind by a huge margin, Zimbabwe hit back early. Chivanga had Matthew Breetzke edging to gully for 1 in the second over, but Tony de Zorzi and Mulder kept South Africa on track. They survived the evening despite some help for the Zimbabwe seamers, and took the score to 49 and the lead to 216 without any further damage.

Rishabh Pant 'should be fine' to play fourth Test, says Shubman Gill

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Pant could not keep wicket for the rest of the Lord’s Test after suffering an injury on the first day

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jul-2025

Rishabh Pant suffered a finger injury on the first day of the Lord’s Test•Getty Images

Rishabh Pant “should be fine” in time for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford from July 23 after scans revealed “no major injury” to the index finger of his left hand, according to India captain Shubman Gill.Pant is the second-highest run-scorer in the series, with 425 in six innings at an average of 70.83.He was struck on the index finger of his left hand while attempting to collect a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah down the leg side during the 34th over of England’s first innings in the Lord’s Test. He was in considerable pain and needed treatment from the physio that caused a long break in play. Though he finished that over, he could not continue keeping wicket, and was replaced behind the stumps by Dhruv Jurel for the rest of the Test.Related

  • Gill 'extremely proud' of India's lower-order fight

Pant, however, came out to bat at No. 5 in both of India’s innings at Lord’s. He scored 74 off 112 balls in the first innings, and 9 off 12 in the second. However, there were moments during both innings where he was in discomfort due to the injury and had to take the injured bottom hand off the bat as he connected with the ball.This was most apparent during India’s chase of 193 on the final day, when Pant walked out to bat with India needing another 135 to win with six wickets in hand. He was not at ease facing the pace of Jofra Archer, frequently releasing his bottom hand from the bat handle.Pant became the first wicket to fall on day five when he lost his off stump to Archer while trying to defend, and India went on to fall short of the target by 22 runs to go 2-1 down in the five-Test series.It is unlikely that Pant will be allowed a keeping substitute for the same injury during the next Test at Old Trafford so he will need to be fully fit going into that fixture.

Konstas trusting advice of his 'inner circle' ahead of Ashes push

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The opener will head to India with Australia A next month before a crucial month of Sheffield Shield cricket that will determine his short-term Test prospects

Andrew McGlashan19-Aug-20250:27

Konstas gone for duck as tough Caribbean tour ends

Sam Konstas is fully aware he faces a “massive” run of Sheffield Shield matches early in the season if he is to retain his Test place for the start of the Ashes but is focused on shutting out much of the talk and trusting his inner circle.Konstas endured a torrid series against West Indies where he made 50 runs in six innings albeit in challenging conditions where the top orders of both teams found life tough. They were his first Tests since bursting into the side against India last season, but he is now back in the pack as far as selection goes to face England in November.He has resumed training with New South Wales having taken a break after the tour and will return to playing on the four-day leg of the Australia A tour of India next month. That trip has a longer lens from the selectors – Australia have a five-Test tour in early 2027 – so while runs won’t hurt Konstas’ shorter-term ambitions, of most relevance will be what he’s able to do in the early rounds of the Shield in October.Related

  • Green set to bowl in Shield cricket, will 'wait and see' if he's at No. 3 in the Ashes

  • Konstas, Peake, McSweeney named in Australia A squad for India tour

  • Bailey declares Weatherald 'in the mix' for Ashes

  • Webster happy to scrap for Ashes spot with Green's return to bowling on track

“It’s massive, it’s going to be a big four games and I expect that,” Konstas said on the day a new four-year deal with Sydney Thunder in the BBL was announced that will keep him at the club until 2029. “But for me, [it’s about] just being in the present moment, don’t get too fixated about the outcome and just be very process-driven in those games. Not getting too fazed about what other people say, and obviously have that inner circle that I trust.”For me it’s just trying to best prepare, and then obviously trusting what I think is right in that current moment,” Konstas added. “It was my first time playing in the West Indies, and first time facing those bowlers. They bowled well and hopefully I can build from that experience.”Adopting the right mindset, training hard, not leaving any regrets. For me, that’s the big thing, just the way I prepare, and especially with the people that I trust, having honest conversations with them when necessary and leaving it to that.”Jack Edwards, the New South Wales captain who will also be part of the Australia A tour, has been training alongside Konstas in recent weeks”He definitely doesn’t hold onto it [the tour] for too long,” Edwards told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s great to have him around. He’s working extremely hard at his game as he always does, hitting a mountain of balls…such a young man, he’s definitely going to have a long career for Australia.”Konstas spoke of leaning on Steven Smith and David Warner, his captain at Thunder, for advice. “I’m very lucky to be working with the best in the world,” he said.Picked for Australia after just 11 first-class matches, it’s been acknowledged by the coaching staff that Konstas has been doing a lot of his developing at the top level although there is a belief in the set-up that the setbacks in West Indies won’t do long-term harm.”I’m still learning about my game and finding what works in different conditions,” he said. “Understanding the situations, when to soak up pressure [and] when to attack the game.”That’s where Warner has been a valuable sounding board for him. “I just like his mindset, to be honest,” Konstas said. “He takes the game on and he’s very aggressive. He’s always trying to dictate terms in the way he likes to.”Still only 19 – he turns 20 early in October – Konstas is trying to keep a level head. “As an athlete, you’re going to go through failures and successes, but I tell you, build from those failures and become a better person and cricketer.”

Rishi Patel century pushes Leicestershire to verge of Division Two title

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Along with 90s from Shan Masood and Ben Cox, Foxes dominate Kent attack

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Kent 17 for 0 trail Leicestershire 459 for 7 dec (Patel 114, Cox 93, Masood 90, Hill 54) by 442 runsA fine century from Rishi Patel, along with 90s from Shan Masood and Ben Cox, saw Leicestershire secure maximum batting bonus points and left them the verge of securing the Division Two title as they dominated a callow Kent attack after being put into bat at the UptonSteel County Ground.Beginning the match 25 points clear of second-placed Glamorgan, the Foxes could not have hoped for a better second day of this Rothesay County Championship match after the first was entirely lost to the weather.It made for a chastening first-class debut for 19-year-old all-rounder Corey Flintoff – one of a remarkable five teenagers in the Kent side – who, with father Andrew watching, bowled 15 wicket-less overs for 91 runs, though he did take a catch.Kent openers Harry Finch and Ben Dawkins survived a difficult nine overs before the light closed in.After the loss of the entire first day to the strong winds that made handling the covers too dangerous to undertake, it was a relief to see the ground ready for play from the start.Flintoff, the second son of former England allrounder Andrew to be embarking on a career as a professional cricketer, following in the footsteps of brother Rocky, took his place in what must surely have been the youngest slip cordon ever formed in county cricket, all three slips and gully being in their teens.They were in the game early, when Jaydn Denly at second slip dropped a straightforward chance given by Sol Budinger off the bowling of Joey Evison. To make matters worse, Denly left the field with illness soon afterwards, while Evison’s feelings will not have improved when Budinger casually swung an in-swinger over the midwicket boundary for six. The Kent allrounder had his revenge soon afterwards however, when Budinger again edged to second slip and this time Flintoff held on.Patel, however, looked in good touch from the start. The 27-year-old has struggled for consistency this season after missing the early weeks with a thumb injury, but has recently shown signs of finding the form which saw him called into an England Lions training camp, and he took full toll on the regular loose deliveries from the visiting attack.There were plenty of testing balls too, and George Garrett produced a beauty to square up and bowl Ian Holland, but a score of 151 for 2 off 30 overs at lunch told its own story. Having hit ten boundaries in going to his half-century, Patel hit another ten in going to three figures, his second Championship century of the season, shortly after lunch.Kent were already looking down the barrel, but Patel played too soon at an Ekansh Singh delivery and got a leading edge that looped to mid-on, a maiden first-class wicket for the 19-year-old, and Lewis Hill, having registered his seventh half-century of the season, slashed a wide short ball from Michael Cohen straight to point.When Steve Eskinazi, who never settled, went leg before to Evison, Leicestershire were in danger of wasting their flying start, but the elegant Masood was calmness personified, and he found lively support from Cox. Together they added 161 for the sixth wicket and both seemed certain to reach three figures, but Garrett, bowling with the new ball, pushed one across Masood to find an edge which carried to slip before Grant Stewart took a fine leaping catch at mid-on to dismiss Cox off the bowling of Evison.

IPL 2026 auction – De Kock added in 359-player shortlist, Green part of first set

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Forty players listed at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore; Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi the only Indians among them

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-20258:03

Will KKR go all-out to get Cameron Green in?

A total of 359 players are set to feature in the IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Of these, 40 players have listed themselves for the maximum base price of INR 2 crore, with Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi the only Indians among them.Cameron Green, who is tipped to become the most expensive buy, has listed himself as a batter and will appear in the first set. Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller and Prithvi Shaw are the others in that set.Quinton de Kock, Dunith Wellalage, and George Linde, who were not part of the longlist, have been included in the final list.Related

  • IPL 2026 auction – who will be at the heart of the big bidding wars?

  • Classy de Kock shows shades of old at just the right time

  • IPL 2026: How the squads stack up ahead of the auction

  • IPL auction: Green could be biggest buy, but can't cross INR 18 crore mark

Of the 359 players shortlisted, 244 are Indian and 115 from overseas. The auction will commence with a full round of capped players. The order will be batters, allrounders, wicketkeepers, fast bowlers and spinners, followed by a full round of uncapped players. The accelerated process will begin after player No. 70 and will cover the rest of the players. The franchises will then be asked to submit the names of the unsold players from the overall list for further accelerated rounds.A total of 77 slots are available to be filled at the auction, including 31 for overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders have the biggest purse of INR 64.30 crore and also have 13 slots left to fill, including six overseas slots. Chennai Super Kings are the next with INR 43.4 crores. They have nine slots vacant.

Manchester United fans discuss recent update on Christian Eriksen

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Daily Mail recently reported that Inter Milan have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Tottenham Hotspur star Christian Eriksen.

The Danish midfielder is out of contract in the summer and looks like he’s heading towards the exit door at Spurs.

The same source claims he is currently valued at £25m but of course, he could also be scooped up for free if his potential suitors wait until his deal expires at the end of the campaign.

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Upon seeing this update, however, many Man United fans were divided on the matter. A number of them would immediately get this deal done, with one claiming the price is low for a Champions League finalist and one of the best midfielders in the world – Eriksen finished last season with an impressive eight goals and 12 assists to his name in the top flight.

They urged Ed Woodward to pull the trigger…

Some fans would even throw Jesse Lingard into the mix for free just so they get rid of their player.

It seems that he is not really a fan favourite at Old Trafford and Man United’s supporters were quite vocal about after their defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates on New Year’s day.

There were also some people who would prefer Man United to go for Jack Grealish instead. The Aston Villa talisman has been in fine form this season with six goals and five assists in the Premier League.

Finally, some of the fans feel like Eriksen is just another Alexis Sanchez in making and that the Danish playmaker would likely suffer the same fate as the Chilean forward, who now finds himself out on loan to Inter Milan.

Quickfire Quiz: How much do you know about Man Utd’s history in the January transfer window?

For that reason, one fan even sees this as a pointless signing.

Meanwhile, many Manchester United fans were quick to slam their star after a horrible display vs Arsenal…

Is this Arsenal’s new striker? Fans seem to think so

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Is this Arsenal’s new striker?

Well Gunners supporters on the internet certainly think so.

Mathieu Flamini was seen as a player surplus to requirements by manager Arsene Wenger, and was expected to be sold during the summer with the likes of Galatasaray and Besiktas both keen on the Frenchman.

But, Arsenal and interested parties couldn’t agree a deal, so Flamini was stuck at the Emirates with little hopes of playing a major part this season.

That seems that have changed.

Flamini was given a starting role for the club in the Capital One Cup North London Derby clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, and wow did he take his opportunity to show his worth.

The former AC Milan midfielder put Spurs to the sword with two goals, first a clinical rebound from an Alex Oxlade Chamberlain shot, and a brilliantly taken volley for the second.

Gunners supporters couldn’t hide their delight on social media, with many of them even saying that he should replace Olivier Giroud to lead the line!

Let’s take a look at the best tweets.

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Five players Sunderland should axe in January

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Sam Allardyce has quite a bit to do in his new job. Recently appointed Sunderland manager, ‘Big Sam’ takes charge of a Black Cats side struggling towards the bottom of the Premier League, after a winless start to the season.

It’s been pretty dark at the Stadium of Light recently, with the Wearside outfit facing relegations battles over the past two seasons. Former boss Dick Advocaat left the club amid reports he had been frustrated by the lack of backing he’s received in the transfer market, despite some big names arriving at the club over the summer.

However, a lack of quality still seems to be oh so prevalent in the Sunderland side, as proved by their poor start to the season. Though the former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham boss is likely to make them more difficult to beat, there’s only so much he can do with limited talent.

Here are five weary Wearsiders to axe in January and lift the darkness at the Stadium of Light…

STEVEN FLETCHER

With Jermain Defoe and Fabio Borini available to Allardyce, Scotland international Steven Fletcher could be discarded. Though a sale is unlikely to recoup much of the £14m Sunderland shelled out for his services to Burnley, he’s likely to have some suitors at least.

By no means a bad player, but Defoe and Borini simply offer more in attacking areas. The 28-year old has been a solid servant, but his sale could generate much needed funds.

He’s been in decent international form, but taking into account Gibraltar presence in the Scots’ Euro 2016 qualifying group would show he’s really quite ineffective.

DANNY GRAHAM

Unlike Fletcher, selling Danny Graham is not likely to produce much in the way of incoming funds. However, selling Danny Graham is a good thing. Because he’s Danny Graham. And you’re selling him.

Perhaps, that’s too unfair, as he’s largely been playing in sub-standard Sunderland teams during his Black Cats career. However, loan spells at Hull and Wolves haven’t yielded much success in terms of goals and the fact he supports Newcastle hasn’t endeared him to fans.

Get rid.

LIAM BRIDCUTT

The former Brighton man was brought in under former boss Gus Poyet, and has been unable to force himself into a fully-fledged first team option.

Lee Cattermole, Yann M’vila and Jack Rodwell offer strong options (on paper at least) in the middle of the park, leaving the Scottish international on the bench. Even Jordi Gomez can supplement the aforementioned trio throughout the season.

A return to the Championship would suit all parties.

VALENTIN ROBERGE

Who? Exactly. The French defender was brought in during the infamous summer spree of 2013, where Paolo di Canio presided over perhaps the worst influx of players ever seen in the Premier League.

The French defender hasn’t even received a squad number since returning from his season long loan with Reims in his homeland, suggesting he really isn’t in the plans. We don’t want to tempt fate here at Football Fancast, but we can’t see that changing too much despite a managerial turnover.

WES BROWN

Wes Brown is a ridiculously decorated defender, with a glittering career behind them. But that’s the problem – every passing second it’s becoming more and more of a distant memory.

Younes Kaboul, Sebastian Coates and John O’Shea are able to deputise at the heart of defence, and the 36-year old former Manchester United stalwart should be moved on to make way for a younger, hungrier alternative.

Though he’s unlikely to garner much in the way of a transfer fee, getting his presumed eye-wateringly expensive wages off the bill is likely to help.

Man United target returning to the Premier League? The pros and cons…

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

It’s fair to say it has been up and down for Gareth Bale since his world-record transfer from Tottenham to Real Madrid.

The Wales international’s first season in the Spanish capital was marked by an astounding decisive goal in the Copa del Rey final and a telling strike in the Champions League final that led to Los Blancos winning La Decima.

However, since the turn of this year, things appear to have gone wrong for the gifted attacker.

Goals started drying up, the Madrid fans and media started to turn on him, friction appears present with Cristiano Ronaldo and his confidence has taken a hit.

Someone of Bale’s ability is always going to have suitors, with plenty of rumours linking the Premier League’s biggest teams like Manchester United and Chelsea, with a move for the Wales international.

However, with the potential for a Premier League return, should Bale move back to English football’s top flight if given the chance?

YES

There is certainly an argument that Bale is better off back in the British game.

The Spanish press have clearly vilified the Welshman and winning their respect back is going to take feats of mammoth proportions.

Ronaldo still rules the roost at the Santiago Bernabeu and while the Portugal international is at the club, Bale will always be forced to play in a support role.

A move back to the Premier League, where he would be comfortable in his surroundings and be able to speak English to team-mates again, would alleviate some of the pressure of adapting to a different culture.

United are the team most commonly linked with a move for Bale, with the Red Devils currently crying out for wide players with pace, power and incision.

If he were to move to Old Trafford the Wales international could well be part of the historic club’s rejuvenation into one of the world’s best and would certainly receive much more love and admiration than he is winning in Spain currently.

NO

From the outside, Bale appears to be something of a stubborn and certainly motivated character, with a return to the Premier League all but admitting defeat.

Although the current climate is not one that he is thriving in, there are reasons to suggest that he can relish being in Madrid if he sticks it out.

Ronaldo’s future is a constant source of speculation and if the Ballon d’Or holder leaves it would open the door for Bale to be the club’s main man.

The old adage that form is temporary and class permanent applies here, with it only a matter of time before someone of Bale’s calibre returns to become a superstar in Spain.

A Galactico yes, but one of the world’s best? No – but Bale can still be a success at Madrid if he continues to work hard.

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Five Key Battles that will decide Tottenham vs Newcastle

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur will have the final say on the coming weekend of Premier League action, with the two sides meeting at White Hart Lane on Sunday in a 4pm kickoff.

The Magpies and the Lilywhites are enduring rather polarised fortunes this season. Spurs are knocking on the door of Champions League qualification and haven’t actually lost a league game since the opening day of the season. Newcastle, meanwhile, are in 18th place and have conceded the most goals of any Premier League side.

But Spurs have come off the boil in recent weeks, scoring just once amid draws with Chelsea and West Brom, whilst Newcastle’s survival bid received a massive boost last weekend with a shock 2-0 win over Liverpool.

So who will come out on top this Sunday? It could well come down to which side dominates the key individual battles. With that in mind, here are FIVE Football Fancast view as the most important.

GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM VS KYLE WALKER

Having scored six of his seven Premier League goals from the left wing – including a strike against Liverpool last weekend – versatile midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum looks set to line up in that role on Sunday, putting him directly against Tottenham Hotspur right-back Kyle Walker.

The England international boasts pace and power in abundance and has been in decent form this season, helping the Lilywhites record the second-best goals conceded record in the Premier League with 2.5 tackles, 3.1 interceptions and 2.9 clearances per match.

But Wijnaldum is a tactical and intelligent player, a typical Netherlands product, which is exactly where Walker lacks. The 25-year-old has drifted inside to great effect this season, regularly finding the net alongside two assists, and Walker must ensure he’s not outsmarted on Sunday.

HARRY KANE VS FABRICIO COLOCCINI

Fabricio Coloccini showed remarkable improvements against Liverpool last weekend, playing a prominent role in Newcastle recording their third win and fourth clean sheet of the season, but the Magpies captain is still a weak link at the heart of defence.

Many of his performances have ranged between appalling and abysmal this season and despite boasting more than enough Premier League experience after nearly eight years at St. James’ Park, he’s struggled to provide the leadership and organisation Newcastle’s backline desperately needs.

Only a display parallel to the one against Liverpool will suffice on Sunday, when the 33-year-old faces one of the Premier League’s most potent goal threats in Harry Kane.

The England international is in the upper echelons of the division’s goal charts once again this season with eight in 15. Having not scored domestically for the last two weeks, the 6 foot 2 striker will be particularly keen to hit the net against the Magpies.

PAPISS CISSE VS TOBY ALDERWEIRELD AND JAN VERTONGHEN

Papiss Cisse got the nod against Liverpool last Sunday and although he failed to find the net, he did hold up the ball and provide the Magpies with an outlet going forward – something they have abundantly lacked at times this season.

Likewise, the Senegal international has only recently returned to first team duties following a short spell out of the side so another start will do his confidence and his scoring touch a world of good. He’s provided the goals to keep Newcastle in the top flight before and the 30-year-old’s Premier League record isn’t actually that bad – 36 goals in 104 outings.

At White Hart Lane, however, Cisse will face one of the toughest challenges for any striker in the Premier League this season in the form of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

Having played together regularly at Ajax and with the Belgium national team, the Spurs centre-back duo have already developed an incredibly strong partnership with an almost telepathic understanding.

Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa, Romelu Lukaku and even Leicester City record-breaker Jamie Vardy have failed to score past them this season – so Cisse looks set for a tough afternoon.

DELE ALLI VS JACK COLBACK

Dele Alli’s importance to the Tottenham starting Xi appears to be growing by the game, evident enough through his point-grabbing strike against West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

The 19-year-old has been nothing short of phenomenal since arriving from MK Dons during the summer, recently excelling in the No.10 role, and is now a recurring fixture in Roy Hodgson’s plans for the England national team.

But with Euro 2016 now just around the corner, that could well inspire a higher level of performance from Newcastle’s Jack Colback on Sunday. He’ll line up directly against Alli as one of the Magpies’ two deep-lying midfielders and should relish the challenge of overshadowing a fellow home-grown talent far above him in the England pecking order.

The 25-year-old produced a strong display against Liverpool last weekend, recording two tackles, three interceptions, two clearances, one created chance and one successful dribble, and will need to recreate that at White Hart Lane.

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN VS DARYL JANMAAT

Almost a carbon copy of the aforementioned Wijnaldum-Walker battle, the skirmish between Christian Eriksen and Daryl Janmaat on the opposite flank is another one to keep an eye out for.

The Dutch international likes to contribute on the overlap and has already found one goal and two assists from right-back this season, whilst averaging just shy of one created chance and one dribble per match – not too bad considering Newcastle’s current league position.

Janmaat’s defensive qualities, however, often leave a lot to be desired, which could spell huge trouble at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen is Spurs’ most dependable creative threat, claiming the most assists, five, and the most created chances per match, three, of any player in the Lilywhites squad this term, and he looks set to continue in the left wing berth this weekend.

If there’s one saving grace for Janmaat, however, it’s that right midfielder Moussa Sissoko will offer a fair amount of defensive protection in front of him.

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