Author: WTX Sports Team

The Sports Team is responsible for delivering your Sports Brief. Weekly roundup to cover all things Football, Cricket, Tennis Formula 1, Boxing and Olympics and more.

Kobbie Mainoo set to start in England’s clash against Belgium Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo is set to make his full England debut against Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday. The 18-year-old was drafted into the senior squad last week, having initially been called up to the U21s. He came on for the last twenty minutes in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday and impressed, finishing the game with a 100% pass record. Mainoo has been a sensation for United this term, despite only making his Premier League debut in November.

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Andy Murray ruptures ankle ligaments and out for ‘extended period’ Andy Murray has revealed that he ruptured ankle ligaments in his Miami Open defeat on Sunday and will now require an ‘extended period’ of recovery and rehabilitation. The Brit called for an injury timeout in the third set of his 5-7 7-5 7-6 loss to Tomas Machac in the round of 32, soldiering on despite painfully rolling his ankle. Murray has now undergone a scan which has confirmed the severity of his injury, with the issue expected to sideline him for some time – and hamper his plans for a…

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Manchester United keeping tabs on £70m Arsenal and Chelsea transfer target Ivan Toney Manchester United could join Chelsea and Arsenal in the race to sign Brentford forward Ivan Toney this summer. The striker will have one year left on his Brentford deal at the end of the season and the Bees are certain to cash in on the England international. Toney returned from an eight-month ban in January and has scored four times in ten appearances this term. He is set to make his full England debut in Tuedsay’s friendly against Belgium as he looks to stake a claim for…

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Ex-France star Frank Leboeuf slams Didier Deschamps for snubbing Arsenal defender William Saliba France World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf has criticised Didier Deschamps for his handling of Arsenal defender William Saliba ahead of Euro 2024. The 23-year-old has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers this season as Mikel Arteta’s side continue their push to win the Premier League and the Champions League. But Saliba was left on the bench by Deschamps for France’s 2-0 defeat to Germany on Saturday evening, meaning he has now started in just two of France’s last 18 matches. Saliba is expected to start France’s second…

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Ivan Toney to be given first England start against Belgium Brentford forward Ivan Toney will be handed his first England start in the friendly against Belgium. The former Newcastle United striker has just one cap to his name after coming on as a late substitute against Ukraine in March 2022. Toney was on course to make England’s World Cup squad for 2022 but an investigation into betting offences overshadowed his chances, and he subsequently served an eight-month ban. The striker, who returned in January, has four goals in ten appearances for the Bees this season.

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Why England players have no names on their shirts vs Belgium England stars are set to wear shirts without names on the back in the second half of their Euro 2024 warm-up friendly against Belgium on Tuesday. The Three Lions are involved in a campaign to raise awareness around dementia following a partnership between Alzheimer’s Society and the Football Association. The blank space – where the player’s name usually would be – is intended to highlight how people with dementia can lose their precious memories. Nameless shirts were first worn for the match against Switzerland in March 2022 and the…

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Poland striker Robert Lewandowski will wreck Wales dream of Euro 2024 place Robert Lewandowski has been the scourge of defences around the world since starting his distinguished career with Delta Warsaw nearly 20 years ago. He’s one of the best strikers to have ever laced up a pair of football boots, scoring almost 600 goals for club and country and, at 35, is still the man Wales have to fear when they face Poland in the eliminator for the finals in Germany this summer. But if they focus too much in shutting out the former Bayern Munich marksman, who is…

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Christian Horner opens door for Carlos Sainz to re-join Red Bull after Australian Grand Prix win F1

Christian Horner opens door for Carlos Sainz to re-join Red Bull after Australian Grand Prix win Christian Horner has suggested that Red Bull could re-sign Carlos Sainz after the Ferrari driver’s brilliant victory at the Australian Grand Prix. Sainz claimed the third win of his Formula 1 career on Sunday in an event-filled race in Melbourne. Benefitting somewhat from Max Verstappen’s brake failure that saw him retire after just three laps, the Spaniard led almost the entire race with a smooth and composed drive – even more remarkable given that he underwent appendicitis just weeks prior. The victory was also…

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Furious Andy Murray rants at Miami Open umpire and fans in angry tantrum Andy Murray suffered an on-court meltdown in his Miami Open defeat to Tomas Machac on Sunday, furiously ranting at the umpire and spectators. The British tennis legend was also seen screaming in pain after suffering a horrific injury during the clash, rolling his ankle after making it 5-5 in the third set, although he was able to get up and continue as Machac won 5-7 7-5 7-6. Speaking after the match, the 36-year-old, who plays with a metal hip, said that he had played the event for…

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Clubs ‘questioning integrity of title race’ over Arsenal and Liverpool fixture changes The Premier League is facing a backlash over the latest batch of rescheduled fixtures with some clubs even ‘questioning the integrity of the title race’ over the changes, according to reports. On Saturday, the Premier League announced which matches had been selected for live television broadcast for the final two gameweeks in April, while six previously postponed fixtures were also rescheduled. It threw up some interesting fixture quirks, most notably with Tottenham now being given 15 days off prior to the north London derby on Sunday April 28.…

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Manchester United appoint designers behind Tottenham’s stadium to create ‘new’ 100,000-seater Old Trafford Manchester United have appointed Populous – the designers behind Tottenham’s new stadium – to design a new 100,000-seater stadium for the Red Devils. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has appointed a taskforce that includes Lord Seb Coe and Gary Neville to oversee plans for the future of the stadium and its surrounding area. Untied have two options; either refurbishing their current ground at a cost of around £1bn or to build a bigger stadium on adjacent land for around £2bn. Though the second option would require private and public…

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Star Sport – England v Belgium: Toney flair The back page of the Daily Star reports on the upcoming England friendly against Belgium. The paper says boss Gareth Southgate will give Ivan Toney a start in the sold-out match at Wembley. Southgate has told Toney to show off his signature swagger on the pitch and book himself a spot on the plane to Germany this summer.  Ivan Toney to be handed England chance as Gareth Southgate tells him to bring the swagger Gareth Southgate has told Ivan Toney to give England some swagger – and take his chance of a…

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Mirror Sport – Moves like swagger The back page of the Mirror, like many back pages this morning, looks at England’s upcoming friendly against Belgium – where Ivan Toney is set to be given a starting position. The paper reports England boss Gareth Southgate has urged Toney to ‘strut his stuff’ and earn himself a spot at the Euros – later this summer in Germany.  How England could line up for Belgium clash as 5 players face last Euro 2024 chance England ramp up their preparations for Euro 2024 when they host Belgium on Tuesday. Gareth Southgate’s side suffered a…

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Sun Sport – Strike the right Toney The back page of the Sun newspaper leads on Gareth Southgate’s comments on England striker Ivan Toney. He is set to start against Belgium in the upcoming friendly. You don’t get hundreds of opportunities’ warns Southgate as Ivan Toney gets chance to gatecrash England’s Euros party IVAN TONEY will get the chance to gatecrash England’s Euro 2024 squad on Tuesday. The Brentford striker, who returned from an eight-month betting ban in January, will start against Belgium at Wembley as Harry Kane has returned to Bayern Munich with an injury. Asked if it is…

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Express Sport – Ivan to see some swagger The back page of the Daily Express leads on Gareth Southgate who has said he wants to see some swagger from Ivan Toney at this year’s Euros – held in Germany this summer! The paper says Southgate is ready to give Ivan his shot.  Andy Murray screams in pain moments before rollercoaster Miami Open loss to Tomas Machac Andy Murray crashed out of the Miami Open minutes after screaming in pain when he pulled up on his ankle. The Brit drew level at 5-5 in the final set after Tomas Machac served…

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Rafael Nadal provides key injury update ahead of French Open with Spaniard set to play back-to-back clay-court events Rafael Nadal has provided a key update on his hip injury ahead of the French Open with the Spaniard set to play back-to-back clay-court events. Nadal, who missed almost the entire 2023 season due to injury, picked up his latest problem at the Brisbane International in January and planned to make a return at the Qatar Open in February but was not fit enough to compete. The 37-year-old then targeted a comeback at Indian Wells in March but once again pulled out…

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Andy Murray admits he is ‘odd’ and ‘strange’ for what he did at Miami Open Andy Murray admits his behaviour was ‘odd’ and ‘strange’ during his impressive comeback victory over Matteo Berrettini at the Miami Open. The British veteran, who plays with a metal hip and is ranked world No.62, lost the first set but came roaring back to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 against his Italian opponent. Murray, who has his 37th birthday coming up in May, revealed last month that he is ‘likely not going to play past this summer’ as he edges towards retirement. There has been much…

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Harry Maguire urges Gareth Southgate to stay as England boss amid Manchester United links Harry Maguire says he ‘definitely’ wants Gareth Southgate to remain as England manager amid links to Manchester United. Earlier this week, reports emerged claiming that Southgate was now Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s No.1 choice to become United boss should Erik ten Hag be sacked. The 53-year-old is one of the most successful managers in England’s history having guided them to the final of Euro 2020 and the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. United admire his work and Southgate’s contract is up at the end of the…

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Manchester United preparing £43million bid for Juventus star after Dan Ashworth recommendation Manchester United are reportedly pursuing Juventus star Gleison Bremer on the recommendation of incoming sporting director Dan Ashworth. Ashworth looks set to become United’s first-ever sporting director after being put on gardening leave by Newcastle United – though the two clubs are yet to agree on a compensation package. Nevertheless, he is supposedly already having a say on their transfer policy in what will be a huge summer for the club as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to get them back on track. According to reports from Italy, via…

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