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Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski would be a solid partner for Willy Boly at Wolves, Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield has suggested.

Tarkowski is out of contract next summer and is currently being linked with a move to Molineux.

According to The Telegraph, Wolves are keen on signing the 28-year-old in this transfer window, though they face competition from Premier League rivals West Ham.

It means there is no guarantee that they will be able to sign him this summer, but if they can, Hatfield believes he is a player who would complement someone like Boly nicely.

“He would certainly suit Wolves,” Hatfield said in a chat with TT. “He’s someone who can maybe offer a solid centre-back pairing for someone like Willy Boly, who I think he’d enjoy working alongside.

“Willy Boly’s obviously a player who maybe saw form tail off a little bit last season but before that was always seen as one of the best centre-backs outside of the top six.”

If Wolves do play 4-4-2 this upcoming season, which was Bruno Lage’s preferred formation during his time at Benfica, then bringing in another central defender like Tarkowski does make sense.

From his time at Burnley, he has a lot of experience playing in a flat back four. So if Lage is leaning towards a two-man central defence, then perhaps Tarkowski and Boly could be an option.

England star Marcus Trescothick was back at the County Ground this afternoon, after returning from his holiday in Spain

Richard Walsh05-Aug-2002England star Marcus Trescothick was back at the County Ground this afternoon, after returning from his holiday in Spain.I asked him how he felt about Somerset getting to the final of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Lords.He told me: "It’s really fantastic news. I might not have been at the ground but I kept in touch all day with phone calls and text messages. It was pretty exciting at the end so I can’t wait to see the video of the match."Was he going to be able to play in the final I asked. He told me: "Funny you should ask me that because I have just had Michael Vaughan on the telephone about the same thing. I told him that I’m trying to make sure that I am fit for the Lords final. In fact the target for my return to cricket is the championship match against Lancashire at Blackpool just a few days before the final."He continued: "It’s too soon to be sure at the moment because it’s less than three weeks ago that I did it. However after another week hopefully we will have a clearer indication as to how things are progressing."All Somerset supporters will be hoping that Marcus will be there on August 31st to lead the side out onto the field, to open the batting and at the end to lift the trophy aloft.

COLOMBO, Oct 3 AAP – Test cricket doesn’t pull huge crowds in Sri Lanka, but a day at the cricket still beats a day in jail.

Michael Donaldson03-Oct-2002COLOMBO, Oct 3 AAP – Test cricket doesn’t pull huge crowds in Sri Lanka, but a day at the cricket still beats a day in jail.Just ask few dozen inmates of Welikada Prison, who were given bright yellow t-shirts and drafted in to help move the sight screens at Colombo Oval.After predictions there would be a sparse crowd at the neutral Test between Australia and Pakistan, there were actually a fair few gathered in the shady recesses of the Sathi Coomaraswamy Stand at Colombo Oval.The prisoners, wearing the yellow t-shirts provided by sponsor Janashakti (it means ‘power to humanity’), were here as helpers, some manning the sight screens but most just sitting around and enjoying a day out.Tony Price Todd – “I was born in Scotland,” he explained – said he was having a “four month holiday” for what sounds like drunk and disorderly behaviour.Today, he was sitting on his canvas mat near a fire truck on a piece of ground which used to be a grassy bank but which has been levelled for a new grandstand at Sri Lanka’s oldest ground.Perhaps for the cameras, the skinny little horses which usually graced this famous ground, had been removed for the match.They were here the other day when Australia trained but now only their droppings remain and Tony Price Todd and his fellow inmates had to be careful where they sat.It’s a far cry from the day Don Bradman batted here in 1948.Bradman played at this ground when his Invincibles side stopped in Ceylon en route to London for the Ashes tour.A one-day match was arranged against a Ceylon XI and 20,000 turned out to see the Don.Bradman, in an act designed to please the locals, came out to bat wearing a pith helmet – the customary colonial headware in tropical climates.The game’s greatest player made only 20 in a match which was eventually rained out.And 20 was an appropriate score on a pitch only 20 yards long.Bradman, after making his ground to avoid being run-out, commented that the pitch was too short because he was certain he shouldn’t have made his crease.The pitch was remeasured after the game and found to be two yards short.Pakistan would probably wish it was a tad short today after Australia went to lunch at 1-138 with Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer seeming to have plenty of time to play their shots in a dynamic opening session.

Marcus Bent doesn’t believe Everton will revisit their interest in Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko this summer.

The Toffees came close to signing the experienced Frenchman back in 2016 following Newcastle’s relegation back to the Championship.

However, the midfielder failed to agree personal terms at Goodison Park and ended up joining Spurs.

But having slipped down the pecking order in north London, making an exit more than likely, Bent reckons that Sissoko’s age could prove a barrier to stop Rafael Benitez from linking up with the 31-year-old once again after their brief spell together at Newcastle, in which he made the Frenchman captain in one fixture against Manchester City.

But Sissoko turns 32 on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, and the former Toffees striker believes that Benitez will be looking to bring in younger players.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“I don’t think they’re going for a 31-year-old. With the players and Everton who they are at the minute, they can go for a younger signing.

“Bringing in a 31-year-old, and don’t get me wrong, massive player, but I don’t think that would be a good signing for Everton. Whether it happens or not I don’t know, or whether Rafa demands him, I don’t know.”

Everton generally have a young squad, so adding to Sissoko to their party would be a bizarre signing.

Managers love bringing in former players, not to mention that Benitez once made the French midfielder captain at Newcastle, but this isn’t a transfer that many will expect to see materialise.

Hampshire select from 13 for their opening Benson & Hedges Cup match against Kent at The Rose Bowl on Monday.

Vic Isaacs28-Apr-2002Hampshire select from 13 for their opening Benson & Hedges Cup match against Kent at The Rose Bowl on Monday.The eleven who played against Leicestershire plus batsmen Giles White and Lawrence Prittipaul.All rounder Alex Morris is out of the five qualifying matches with muscular back problems, although a scan has shown no damage. Dimitri Mascarenhas who limped out of the last Championship match after bowling just 4 balls is expected to be fit.As a precaution, James Tomlinson the Cardiff University fast bowler, who did so much last season to help Hampshire to the 2nd XI Championship title has been put on standby.The Thirteen: Will Kendall, Derek Kenway, John Crawley, Robin Smith (captain), Neil Johnson, Nic Pothas (wicket-keeper), Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Udal, Chris Tremlett, James Hamblin, Alan Mullally, Giles White and Lawrence Prittipaul.

When the recent competition winner’s name was announced as Maddy Ferrari, Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding contacted the club website to say that he knew the winner and he felt that reader’s of the site would be interested to hear

Richard Walsh07-Mar-2002When the recent competition winner’s name was announced as Maddy Ferrari, Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding contacted the club website to say that he knew the winner and he felt that reader’s of the site would be interested to hear it.In his office at the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground Andrew Moulding told me at, “Maddy Ferrari made contact with me in my official capacity, from her home at Witham Friary last summer to say that she had a group of youngsters who wanted to play cricket.”Andrew continued, “I went up to meet her and half a dozen Mums in the village which is in the north east of the county not far from Frome.They told me that they were determined to set something up.”The Cricket Development Officer went on, “The local parish has given them some ground, and we are trying to get a new Flicx pitch to help them out and give them a start. We have also put them in touch with the Lord’s Taverner’s who will hopefully be able to help them.”Well done Maddy on winning the prize, and well done to all the Mums in Witham Friary. If any of you read this please contact the site so that we can report any progress that has been made in recent months.

Speaking to Football Insider, former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie has made a major claim involving reported club target Junior Firpo.

The Lowdown: West Ham eyeing Firpo…

Over these last few months, consistent reports have emerged linking West Ham with a move for Barcelona defender Firpo.

Firstly, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claimed back in April that the Hammers and Inter Milan had looked at the 24-year-old.

Going by far more recent claims, Firpo certainly seems like a player firmly on the West Ham radar.

ExWHUemployee believes that manager David Moyes ‘definitely’ has an interest in the Spaniard while Mundo Deportivo came out just two days ago and said West Ham are ‘one of the best positioned’ to sign him.

The Latest: McAvennie drops major claim involving Firpo…

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-Irons front man McAvennie has shared what he knows on the Firpo situation from his contacts.

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Indeed, after speaking with the player’s agent, he believes Firpo could leave Barcelona for as little as £15 million.

“I know the boy, he’s talented,” McAvennie explained.

“I spoke to his agent a couple of days ago. Barcelona are trying to offload players, they have no money. I’m hearing it will take £15million.

“He’s a good talent. I don’t see why he couldn’t come to West Ham.

“It’s a gamble coming from Europe, they need to adapt. If you’re even in Barcelona’s third team then you’re clearly good.

“He’s a talent and West Ham need talent. If he leaves Barca, he’ll have a point to prove and that’s what you want.”

The Verdict: Bargain?

At £15m, West Ham could land a fairly astute acquisition and really bolster their full-back options.

However, he is also a risky swoop, especially given his severe lack of playing time at the Camp Nou since his move there from Real Betis in the summer of 2019.

He started just three La Liga matches for the Catalans over 2020/2021 but his form for Betis over 2018/2019 suggests he could still be a promising player.

Firpo averaged an impressive 1.3 completed dribbles per 90 in the Spanish top flight that season, even more than 20/21 loan sensation Jesse Lingard managed for West Ham during his spell (WhoScored).

Moyes may want to store that £15m aside to either seal a permanent deal for Lingard or sign a new striker, but swooping for Firpo still shouldn’t be ruled out going by recent developments.

In other news: West Ham fans overjoyed by this ‘excellent news’…find out more here.

Bharti responds positively to Gray’s letter on staging ICC KnockOutIndian Sports Minister Uma Bharti said on Thursday she was committed to her promise given to the ICC president Malcolm Gray in holding the ICC KnockOut tournament in India. Reacting to ICC president Malcolm Gray’s letter to her seeking clarification on India’s stand to stage the competition here, Bharti told PTI “I stand by my commitment of all help in holding the ICC KnockOut tournament in India. I had invited the ICC to hold the tournament in our country and promised them all help including tax exemption, when Mr Gray met me in March.” She added “I will be very happy if the tournament is held in our country and described the game as “an expression of the nation’s sentiment”.Earlier, based on BCCI secretary JY Lele’s statement that India was not very keen to conduct the tourney, the ICC president sent a letter to the Sports Minister to seek clarifications from her. PTI which has the copy of the letter, quotes Gray as writing, “I have been watching with great interest some of the statements about cricket emanating in the Indian press and have been encouraged by your statement and the line you are taking. I hope that you will continue to lend your support to the event being held in India and to the obtaining of taxexemption for the tournament. As we discussed, whenever major sportingtournaments are held around the world, they are only located in a taxfriendly environment.”Muthiah overrules Lele’s statementBCCI president AC Muthiah on Thursday categorically stated that India would certainly go ahead with hosting the ICC KnockOut tournament. Overruling BCCI secretary JY Lele’s statement where he had expressed reservations on holding the tournament in India, Muthiah said “there is no hitch in India hosting the tournament. The Union Sports Ministry has cleared it and Sports Minister Uma Bharti has extended all support for the success of the ICC knockout tournament,” while talking to PTI from Udhagamandalam. Muthiah added “We do not want to deny the best opportunity for the cricket loving public of India of witnessing players from all Test playing countries of ICC in action.”On India playing Pakistan in the future, Muthiah said “the government’s letter clarified that there is no hitch in these two countries competing in multi-lateral tournaments”. He added “the government has said it has no objection to the Indian team playing in the ICC knock-out and World Cup and other ICC recognised tournaments despite the fact that certain matches in such tournaments may be played between India and Pakistan either in India or in Pakistan.”Ganguly, Chauhan hope to break the jinxExpressing happiness over the selection of the 15-member Indian squad for the Zimbabwe tour, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said in Bangalore on Thursday “the team would have to work hard to win matches and set right the dismal overseas record.” An irritated Ganguly in reply to a question on India’s record abroad said “I am fed up of answering that question. We have a bad record. It is time we started changing it”. He added “We want to do well and solve the problem. We have to play and work hard to win.”Meanwhile, Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan said the team would try to break the 15-year-old jinx abroad. Talking to a TV news channel, Chauhan said “We are aware of our poor record since 1986 (when India under Kapil Dev defeated England). But this time, we will definitely break the jinx.” Expressing confidence that the side would do well, the former Indian opener said “the confidence level of the team is high after it beat world champions Australia 2-1 in the home series. The Zimbabwe tour is a real challenge. But I am fully confident that we will do well.”Central Zone junior academy inaugurated at NagpurThe Central Zone National Cricket Academy for junior boys between the age group of 13 to 16 has 21 players. The zonal centre was inaugurated at the Vidarbha Cricket Association on Wednesday. A press release from Nagpur said “Cricketers between the age of 13 to 16 are being imparted advanced training under the guidance of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the NCA.Former Ranji Trophy player Murthy Rajan will be its chief coach assisted by Prakash Sahastrabudhe and Praveen Hingnikar, both former Ranji players. Players are from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Vidarbha while Uttar Pradesh players are likely to join shortly, the release added.

Orissa beat Assam by 51 runs at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta earliertoday

Sakyasen Mittra05-Dec-2000Orissa beat Assam by 51 runs at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta earliertoday. A few days ago the coach of the Bengal team Palash Nundy wassaying that Orissa is the team of the future from the East. Hecouldn’t have made a better statement. Debashish Mohanty and his teammates put up a thoroughly professional display to outplay Assam in theRanji Trophy one-day encounter.Batting first after being put in Orissa totalled 249 for seven intheir 50 overs. They did so, after being reduced to 94 for the loss offour wickets in the 23rd over. A fifth wicket partnership of 123 runsin 139 balls runs between Pravanjan Mullick and P Jayachandra took thegame away from Assam. Mullick who scored an unbeaten 83 in 119 ballsshowed a lot of common sense while batting. He had six fours, alldrives in front of the wicket, on both sides. Jayachandra, who wasdropped by wicket keeper Vinayak Samant when on 14 had 52 beforeholing out to Parag Das at mid wicket. Both, helped by some shoddyfielding from the Assam team ran well during their partnership. As forAssam, left-arm medium pacer Gautam Dutta and Javed Zaman lookedimpressive. However, the others did not back them up.When Assam batted, Mohanty ripped through the top order. He had Paragdas caught at short leg in his very first over. Then, Ganesh Kumar wascaught behind by Gautam Gopal in Mohanty’s third over as he tried tosteer him. None of the Assam batsmen looked confident against him.Only Vinayak Samant managed to negotiate him with some degree ofcomfort. Samant was the top scorer for Assam with 84 in 115 balls witheight boundaries. The rest of the batsmen failed except for tailenderSunil Subramanium who made 27. The Assam innings folded for 199 in46.4 overs.Orissa, now have 4 points from two matches. Their last league matchagainst Bengal on December 10 will finally decide whether they willqualify for the Wills Trophy or not.

كشف أحمد أبو عبلة طبيب النادي الأهلي، موعد عودة الثنائي المصاب محمد هاني وكريم فؤاد، للمشاركة مع الفريق.

وتعرض محمد هاني للإصابة قبل مباراة صن داونز، بينما كريم فؤاد أصيب خلال المواجهة نفسها، التي أقيمت السبت الماضي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وقال أبو عبلة خلال تصريحات عبر الموقع الرسمي للأهلي: “كريم فؤاد، تعافى من الإصابة بكدمة في العضلة الأمامية، وشارك في مران الفريق الذي أقيم عصر اليوم على ملعب التتش بالجزيرة”.

وأضاف: “كريم فؤاد خضع لفحص طبي للاطمئنان على حالته، بعد أن اشتكى من كدمة في العضلة الأمامية خلال مشاركته في مباراة الأهلي وصن داونز الجنوب إفريقي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا”.

وتابع: “اللاعب تعافى من آلام الكدمة، وبدأ المشاركة في التدريبات بشكل تدريجي، واستكمل المران بجانب من التدريبات المنفردة المحددة له”.

طالع | تقارير: كاف يخاطب المريخ للموافقة على حضور الجماهير أمام الأهلي

وعن محمد هاني، أوضح أبو عبلة، أن اللاعب خضع” لاختبار طبي قبل انطلاق المران الجماعي اليوم الأربعاء على ملعب التتش بالجزيرة، وتأكد تحسن حالته بشكل كبير.

وواصل: “هاني جاهز للمشاركة في جانب من التدريبات بعد أن كان قد اشتكى من آلام في العضلة الضامة”.

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة المريخ السوداني، مساء الجمعة الموافق 18 مارس الجاري، في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من دور المجموعات لدوري أبطال إفريقيا.