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A organizada do Corinthians, Gaviões da Fiel, se reunirá com representantes do Ministério Público de São Paulo nesta sexta-feira (12), visando reverter a punição imposta pela Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) à torcida, que a proíbe de frequentar estádios até o final de 2026.

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A sanção veio a público na quinta-feira (11) e passa a valer a partir do duelo contra o Cruzeiro, neste domingo (14), na Neo Química Arena, que decide a vaga na final da Copa do Brasil. A recomendação ocorre em resposta a uma briga entre torcedores do Corinthians e do São Paulo, no dia 20 de novembro, na capital paulista.

O Corinthians também entrou na jogada e emitiu uma nota oficial manifestando uma profunda insatisfação com a decisão do MP, que consideram uma medida ‘desproporcional’ e prejudicial ao clube alvinegro na reta final da Copa do Brasil. A decisão só será revertida com indicação do órgão.

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– Entendo que a forma como a punição foi conduzida carece de maior investigação e equilíbrio. Recentemente a torcida assinou um termo de ajustamento de conduta e desde então cumpre rigorosamente com suas obrigações seja na Neo Química Arena, seja como torcida visitante. Sua presença nas arquibancadas junto às demais torcidas é parte essencial da atmosfera que identifica e alimenta o Corinthians, inspira atletas e transforma jogos em verdadeiros espetáculos populares – diz parte da nota assinada por Osmar Stabile, presidente do clube alvinegro.

Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Destaque do Corinthians

A festa da Fiel na vitória sobre Cruzeiro, na última quarta-feira (10), no Mineirão, foi valorizada por jogadores e membros da comissão técnica do Timão. Dorival Júnior, por exemplo, fez um agradecimento público em nome do grupo.

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– A torcida impressiona pelo comportamento que tem, a força que eles fizeram para estar presentes. Isso tem que ser reconhecido, exaltado, e eu agradeço, em nome de todo o nosso grupo, pelo esforço que fizeram para vir incentivar a nossa equipe. Eu acho que isso é uma demonstração de um carinho acima do normal de uma torcida que não cessa em nenhum minuto sequer – disse o treinador em entrevista coletiva no Mineirão.

Próximo jogo

Corinthians e Cruzeiro decidem uma vaga na final da Copa do Brasil neste domingo (14), às 18h (de Brasília), na Neo Química Arena. O Timão venceu o jogo de ida por 1 a 0, com gol de Memphis, e tem a vantagem do empate.

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CorinthiansFutebol Nacional

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s first game this BBL season will be against Melbourne Renegades, who have Mohammad Rizwan in their line-up

AAP10-Dec-2025Mitchell Starc can take some of the credit as Shaheen Shah Afridi arrives in Australia as part of a star-studded Pakistan contingent to lead Brisbane Heat’s depleted attack in the BBL.Afridi, the towering left-arm quick, is a hardened three-format international at just 25, and was taken with the first pick by Heat in June’s draft. A season-ending injury to Spencer Johnson and Michael Neser’s Test duties mean Johan Botha’s side will be leaning heavily on the man who recently took over as Pakistan’s ODI captain.”They [Johnson and Neser] are experienced bowlers for this team and I hope I play my role, that’s why I’m here,” Afridi said on Wednesday. “In all three [disciplines]… fielding, and if I need, chipping in batting as well, I’ll give my best. It’s not a small league and [is] well-renowned as the best league and… the best cricket with the best players.”Related

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Afridi will line up against Melbourne Renegades on his BBL debut on Monday, and will be pitted against the man he replaced as Pakistan’s white-ball skipper, Mohammad Rizwan.Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Hasan Ali (Adelaide Strikers), Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars) and Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder) will also feature in the tournament, which begins on Sunday.”First game against Rizzy… a world-quality player. And Babar’s here as well,” Afridi said. “They know me, I know them. Hopefully we play some good cricket here. And we’re really hopeful we get the Pakistani support, and the Asian community as a whole.”Afridi has taken 126 wickets and gone for less than eight runs an over in 96 T20Is, while his Test average (27) and strike rate (52) are up there among the best in the current game.Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are among the many Pakistan players in the BBL this year•AFP/Getty ImagesStarc’s 414th Test wicket at the Gabba last week saw him overtake Afridi’s compatriot Wasim Akram as the most lethal left-arm fast bowler in Test history.”The greats are always great,” Afridi said of Akram, but also talked about the exposure to Starc, ten years his senior, on his first international tour as a 16-year-old, which he said had played a huge part in his own story.Afridi, whose older brother Riaz had already played Test cricket for Pakistan, was plucked from the country’s popular tape-ball circuit for a development tour of Australia, and played Test cricket himself barely three years later.”He [Starc] is a legend and last time when we chatted, I told him I watched his 2015 [World Cup] bowling spell and that’s why I bowled fuller to the batsman,” Afridi said. “I can say he’s a role model for any youngster… he’s been the best for Australia for many years.”

Senne Lammens has been hailed as a "massive upgrade" on Andre Onana after a "dominant" start to his Manchester United career. The Belgian was brought in from Royal Antwerp over the summer and has since made the No.1 shirt his own, with the error-prone Onana shipped off on loan to Trabzonspor after losing the faith of head coach Ruben Amorim.

Lammens helps transform United’s fortunes

Lammens, a relatively obscure arrival from Royal Antwerp for £18 million ($24m) on transfer deadline day, has shifted the mood around Old Trafford. Initially signed with modest expectations, he has quickly cemented himself as the most assured goalkeeper the club has fielded in years. His emergence comes after Onana endured a calamitous run of high-profile errors before being sent on loan to Trabzonspor. Altay Bayındır briefly stepped in, but the Turkey international also struggled under the intensity of Premier League scrutiny. With United drifting and in need of a spark, Lammens was thrown into the spotlight and has responded with composure far beyond his experience, helping Amorim's side re-emerge as contenders for Champions League qualification.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALPaul Parker lavishes praise on Lammens

Former United defender Paul Parker delivered an uncompromising assessment of the club’s goalkeeping transformation, insisting Lammens represents a massive improvement. 

In an interview with Parker said: "Lammens have definitely made a big difference for Manchester United. He is a massive upgrade from Onana. He looks confident and Man United wouldn’t be where they are if they hadn’t brought him in. He is communicating a lot better than Onana, and the most important thing is that he actually looks like a goalkeeper. He can actually use his hands and make saves, which should be the most important thing for a goalkeeper, but Onana couldn’t do that."

Parker, once a key part of United’s early Premier League dominance, added that Lammens’ youth only heightens the excitement.

"He is still very young, so he has a lot of room to grow as well, but I have been really surprised with the way he has come in and dominated in goal," he said. "For me, he has been one of the best signings of the season, and combining that with his potential, I think Man United made the right decision by signing him and letting Onana go."

Sir Alex Ferguson adds his approval

Lammens’ impact has not gone unnoticed by the greatest manager in United’s history. Sir Alex Ferguson, speaking to , highlighted the 23-year-old's maturity between the sticks. 

He said: "There are signs, the manager has had some good signs. Particularly the goalkeeper has been outstanding, he’s only played three or four games and he’s looking really good. Of course, Mbeumo and Cunha, the new players from Wolves and Brentford, they’ve added to it. I hope the manager gets a bit of success because at United you need to have success – the signs are getting better."

United supporters have embraced their new number one with gusto. During the 2-0 victory over Sunderland, which delivered the club’s first clean sheet of the season, the Stretford End chanted:

Lammens, smiling but modest, dismissed the comparison.

He told United's website: "It was really nice to hear it already in the first game [against Sunderland]. I think it is a sign that the fans are happy with me. It feels really good that I can give them that trust."

While fans are already dreaming, head coach Ruben Amorim has cautioned against premature hype.

He said in October: "The first impression in this club is really important; to maintain the level is even more important and is really difficult.

"He’s not [Peter] Schmeichel yet. He’s a young guy with talent. He showed a lot of composure, and the fans liked it. But again, that is in the past; we need to prove in the next game."

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Getty Images SportBournemouth test awaits next

United climbed to sixth in the Premier League table after their 4-1 victory over Wolves. Amorim will look to build on the positive result and get another win when they host Bournemouth next on December 15. 

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has lauded Marcus Rashford’s professionalism and attitude after the England forward found himself starting fewer matches following the return of Raphinha to full fitness. Despite a dip in minutes, Flick insists the 28-year-old has been "perfect" behind the scenes, offering a model response to competition within a title-chasing squad.

• Flick praises Rashford’s response to reduced role

  Rashford has featured regularly since arriving from Manchester United, starting 14 matches in all competitions. However, with Raphinha reclaiming his place on the left flank and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal locking down the right, the loanee has begun just one of Barcelona’s last six games since the October international break. However, rather than disrupting squad harmony, Rashford has shown maturity in accepting his reduced role, which has impressed Flick. 

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  A dressing room example in a competitive front line

  Barcelona’s front three has largely settled into a familiar pattern in Flick’s 4-3-3 system, with Robert Lewandowski flanked by Raphinha and Yamal. Rashford has been used as an impact option, entering at half-time in three of the last five matches, a role that demands patience and focus. However, Flick revealed a private exchange that encapsulated Rashford’s mindset.

  "I try to speak to every player when they are not selected, and the last time I checked with him he replied me ‘boss, you don’t have to tell me about your decisions'," Flick said on Rashford. "'The most important thing is the team. We have to win the three points. The rest is not that important’.

  "This is the perfect mentality. I am so happy to have him. When he is on the bench, he shows that we have a good and deep squad. What I can say is that he is an absolutely professional player. In the beginning, he had to adapt a little bit, but now he is at his best level."

• Rashford rediscovering himself in Catalunya

  Rashford’s move to Barcelona came after a difficult period at United, where he fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim and struggled to rediscover consistency. In Catalonia, however, Rashford believes he has found an environment more conducive to expressing himself. Speaking to he described embracing a culture where collective purpose is paramount.

  "I've always been, like many people in the world, an admirer of Spanish football," he said. "To play for the biggest club in Spain is a huge honour. I'm looking forward to playing more games here, just doing my best and try to help the team to win. It's a club that demands this. The environment is always pushing us to be the best players we can be so it's perfect to be in a place like this as a player."

  Rashford has been candid about the scrutiny he faced in England, where questions were raised about his commitment and focus. In Barcelona, he insists the narrative feels different.

  "I don't see anything here as like a pressure," he said. "It's just, I'm here to play football. It's been amazing. I feel welcome, I feel at home. I've just been enjoying every step of the way."

  Beyond the pitch, Rashford has taken deliberate steps to integrate into life in Spain. Living away from Manchester for the first time, he has enrolled in Spanish lessons to ease communication with his team-mates.

  "All my team-mates welcomed me well and I also felt very good in the city," he added. "It’s the first time I’ve lived away from Manchester, but I’m already starting to feel at home. I want to learn more Spanish and I’m trying."

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  Future decisions on the horizon

  Barcelona hold an option to make Rashford’s move permanent for €30 million (£26m/$35m) at the end of the 2025-26 season, a clause that could become increasingly relevant if his positive influence continues. In October, Rashford openly stated his desire to extend his stay, hinting at a long-term future in Blaugrana colours. While his role has evolved from being a regular starter to a rotational player, his impact and professionalism have not gone unnoticed. Flick’s side sit four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. As they prepare to host Osasuna on Saturday, the emphasis remains on collective momentum rather than individual status and Rashford’s acceptance of that principle has only strengthened Flick’s hand.

The Baltimore Orioles were forced to make an early defensive change in Sunday's game against the New York Yankees, bringing in Gary Sanchez to replace catcher Maverick Handley who sustained an injury after a hard collision on the base paths.

During the bottom of the second inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. was attempting to score a run after rounding third base. He lost a cleat while heading towards home plate, when an errant throw from left fielder Colton Cowser forced Handley to move up the base path. While trying to play the ball, Handley was run over by Chisholm on his way to the plate, in what was an absolutely brutal collision.

Have a look at the chaotic play:

Chisholm appeared to attempt to avoid making contact with Handley, but it was too late and he ran right through Baltimore's backstop before scoring the Yankees' first run.

Handley was examined by the Orioles' medical staff and removed from the game. He was replaced by Sanchez after the collision, who took over behind the plate.

Bobby Jenks, the fan-favorite closer for the 2005 Chicago White Sox who went on to become a two-time All-Star, died Friday in Portugal, the team said in a Saturday afternoon social media post. He was 44.

“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a team statement. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago."

Jenks had been battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.

The White Sox called up Jenks, an Anaheim Angels draftee, midway through the '05 season. Gradually taking over the team's closer role, he saved four games in the postseason as Chicago won its first World Series title since 1917.

Becoming one of baseball's most dominant closers for several years, he averaged 38 saves per 162 games from 2006 to '10. He is second to Bobby Thigpen in franchise history in that category.

He signed with the Boston Red Sox before the 2011 season, but injuries quickly derailed his career, and he eventually received a $5 million malpractice settlement for a surgery he said hastened his 2012 retirement. In retirement, he wrote candidly about the surgery and his previous substance-abuse issues.

“If I don’t get a chance in PBKS, then MI or CSK are good options. I like both those teams very much,” Jitesh says of the IPL mega auction

Rajan Raj06-Nov-2024Jitesh Sharma could well have been the next big thing for India in T20I cricket, till IPL 2024, where there was little sign of the exhilarating run-scorer from the two previous seasons. From the outside, it feels like he has slipped down the pecking order, though the T20Is in South Africa give him a chance to recover lost ground.Part of the problem for his dry run, he says, is that he had “started thinking too far ahead” after IPL 2023 and his international debut and was “thinking of the [2024] T20 World Cup team”. He has course-corrected but, as he says, there were other reasons for his turn in fortunes too.”I know I play very high-risk cricket. There are a lot of risks in my shot selection,” Jitesh told ESPNcricinfo. “My batting number also kept changing… though that is not that important in T20 cricket. However, apart from all this, I had started thinking too far ahead. About IPL 2024, and the T20 World Cup team. Before that, I never used to think that far ahead. I used to think about one match at a time, and now I have started doing that again.”Related

• India call up Ramandeep, Vyshak, Dayal for SA T20I tour

• Rinku and Jitesh in a race to be India's World Cup finisher

Jitesh took his time coming into prominence, but when he did, after prolific back-to-back IPL seasons for Punjab Kings in 2022 (234 runs at a strike rate of 163.64) and 2023 (309 runs at a strike rate of 156.06), he made it count. He was in the India T20I side for the tour of Sri Lanka, and though he didn’t get a game there, he did at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and then in bilateral series at home against Australia and Afghanistan, and away against South Africa.Then came that period when he got ahead of himself, as he put it, and IPL 2024 came and went without much from his bat. All Punjab Kings, who finished ninth on the table, got from their vice-captain was 187 runs in 12 innings, and the strike rate had dipped to 131.69. He isn’t wrong about his batting position – he went out everywhere from Nos. 4, 5, 6 and even 7.”In T20s, as a batsman, you cannot say you will play only at four or five or whatever. You can assume that in a match, if there is a very good partnership between the openers and they bat for 16 overs, then the next batsman to come will definitely be a finisher,” Jitesh said. “In T20s, the overs remaining are more important than a batsman’s batting position. If wickets fall in the third, fourth or fifth over itself, then you go with the normal order. But if wickets fall late, then you go with the finisher.”However, I can definitely say this about myself, or any batsman, that if I know after how many overs I have to go to bat and I am given good clarity about my role, then it is better.”In the seven T20I innings he did play, between October 2023 and January 2024, Jitesh scored quickly, at 147.05, but aggregated just 100 runs. He understands that he didn’t do enough when he got his chance.

“I am looking forward to doing well in the longer format of the game as well. I know that if I am used with good strategy in this format, I can perform. If I get a chance in the middle order or lower-middle order, perhaps I can prove useful”Jitesh Sharma

“A lot has changed since joining the Indian team,” Jitesh said. “I’m trying to be more calm than before. By watching the senior players of the team, I always try to learn how to keep myself calm. Now I feel more humble and grounded than before. I am taking each of my practice sessions more seriously than before. In the end, there is no substitute for hard work, and that applies to everyone. Whatever you try to achieve, hard work is the only way that will take you forward.”Maybe I have made it to the Indian team, maybe one of my dreams has come true, but it is very important to stay grounded. Making a place in the team is a different thing but to remain in the team, three things are very important: stay humble, stay grounded, and work harder than ever.”There was no Jitesh in the India squad for the T20 World Cup 2024, but he came back soon after, for the T20I series against Bangladesh. But he did not get a game. The way the team management treated Sanju Samson, though, has given him confidence.”It feels good to see the way the team has backed him [Samson],” Jitesh said. Samson scored 29 and 10 in the first two T20Is, and then hit 111 in 47 balls in the final game, to perhaps buy himself a long rope in the T20I line-up. “The message from Gauti sir [Gautam Gambhir, the head coach] and Surya [Suryakumar Yadav, the T20I captain] is quite clear. They tell us clearly what they expect from any player in the team.”If a player is being backed today, then it is certain that in the future, when my chance comes, I will also be backed in the same way.”Jitesh Sharma wouldn’t mind being part of CSK or MI if he got the chance, he said•BCCI

… and there is an IPL auction to think about

Jitesh would very likely have been one of the players retained by Punjab Kings if the mega auction had come a year before. After IPL 2024, though, he has been offloaded – which is not to say the franchise won’t want to get him back – with Punjab Kings retaining only Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh from their previous roster.Again, though, Jitesh isn’t looking too far ahead.”It is a mega auction, so nothing can be said,” he said. “A player must be ready to go to any team. But if I don’t get a chance in PBKS, then MI [Mumbai Indians] or CSK [Chennai Super Kings] are good options. I like both those teams very much.”After his impressive run in 2022 and 2023, Jitesh was made vice-captain in 2024, and led in a couple of matches too. He wouldn’t mind giving it another go if he is asked to.”I like this kind of responsibility very much,” he said. “I have always loved captaincy and am always ready for it. I feel like when I have this pressure on me, I am able to read the match better. If I get this opportunity, I am completely ready for it.”

A T20I specialist’s red-ball ambitions

For someone who made his first-class debut in 2015, just 18 games in the format suggests a lack of quality against the red ball.He has played just one game in either of the last two Ranji Trophy seasons for Vidarbha, with a 69 against Gujarat in January 2023 his best effort in these. It was a great effort, to be fair. The top score for his team in the second innings in a match they went on to win by just 18 runs. Opportunities have been scarce, though, and it’s not because he hasn’t been available. When it comes to the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy or the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, he has been more of a regular for Vidarbha.”Like every season, this season is also very important for me. If I get a chance, I will definitely try my best to prove my worth in the Ranji Trophy also,” he said. “I am looking forward to doing well in the longer format of the game as well. I know that if I am used with good strategy in this format, I can perform. If I get a chance in the middle order or lower-middle order, perhaps I can prove useful.”

افتتح منتخب المغرب مشواره في بطولة كأس العرب 2025 بفوز مستحق على منتخب جزر القمر بنتيجة 3-1، في المباراة التي أقيمت ضمن الجولة الأولى لدور المجموعات للنسخة الحالية من البطولة المقامة في قطر.

سجل المنتخب المغربي هدفه الأول مبكرًا في الدقيقة الخامسة، عندما استغل سفيان بوفتيني ركلة ركنية من الجانب الأيسر ليقابلها برأسية رائعة أسكنت الشباك، مانحًا نسور الأطلس بداية قوية في اللقاء.

وعزز طارق تيسودالي تقدم المغرب بعد ست دقائق فقط، مستفيدًا من تسديدة ارتطمت بمدافع جزر القمر لتغير اتجاهها وتدخل المرمى، ليصبح التقدم المغربي هدفين دون رد قبل مرور ربع ساعة من بداية المباراة.

طالع أيضًا | تشكيل منتخب مصر الثاني أمام الكويت في كأس العرب.. شريف يقود الهجوم

وفي الدقيقة الرابعة من الوقت بدل الضائع للشوط الأول، أضاف كريم البركاوي الهدف الثالث بعد متابعة عرضية من الجبهة اليمنى، مسجلاً برأسية مميزة ليختتم الشوط بتفوق كبير للمغرب.

وفي الشوط الثاني، قلص منتخب جزر القمر الفارق في الدقيقة 56، بعدما انطلق زاكواني على الجبهة وسدد عرضية أرضية اصطدمت بمدافع المغرب وسكنت الشباك بالخطأ، ليمنح فريقه بصيص أمل قبل أن يحافظ المغرب على تقدمه حتى نهاية المباراة.

وتضم المجموعة الثانية التي ينافس فيها المنتخب المغربي ومنتخب جزر القمر إلى جانبهما منتخبي السعودية وعمان، حيث يسعى نسور الأطلس لاستمرار الانتصارات لضمان التأهل إلى الأدوار الإقصائية مبكرًا. أهداف مباراة المغرب وجزر القمر في كأس العرب

Sweden boss Graham Potter has now shared an update on injured Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski and his current condition, hinting at a potential return date.

Tottenham without Dejan Kulusevski since May through knee injury

Kulusevski’s knee injury has evolved into one of Tottenham’s most frustrating injury sagas, with the Sweden international sidelined since May’s 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.

The 25-year-old was forced off after just 19 minutes at Selhurst Park with discomfort in his right patella, initially appearing a relatively minor issue.

However, medical examinations then revealed damage serious enough to require surgery, with Kulusevski undergoing the procedure on May 14th — ruling him out of Tottenham’s Europa League final triumph over Man United.

Former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou expressed disappointment when confirming the setback, explaining that medical staff were initially relieved the structural integrity of the knee seemed intact.

The Australian expected Kulusevski to miss ‘at least a few months’ but provided no definitive return timeline, acknowledging uncertainty about whether the Swede would even be ready for the 25/26 season opener in August.

Related Tottenham handed pitiful Solanke injury update with new timeline shared

The Englishman hasn’t featured since Man City in August.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini 4 days ago

Seven months later, Kulusevski remains unavailable and has failed to make a single appearance under Thomas Frank.

His prolonged absence has seriously impacted Tottenham’s creativity, particularly given James Maddison’s ACL injury that will keep the playmaker out for most of this campaign.

Spurs have been forced to rely on makeshift solutions in the number ten position, with summer signing Xavi Simons being their only natural alternative in that role.

Footage emerged of Kulusevski training with Spurs coaches in Dubai during a warm-weather rehabilitation camp, encouraging supporters who have grown impatient with his prolonged absence.

However, Frank’s most recent update provided little comfort, simply stating he would only share news when Kulusevski is “when they are ready to really be close to being involved in the squad”.

Potter shares Kulusevski injury 'truth' with Tottenham timeline given

Now, speaking on Fotbollskanalen podcast, as translated by Sport Witness, Potter has now hinted at a possible timeline for the £110,000-per-week forward.

The Sweden boss is confident that Kulusevski could be ready for their World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine in March, claiming that the former Juventus star has a ‘really complicated’ injury.

When asked if Kulusevski will be ready for the Ukraine clash, Potter said he is ‘convinced’.

Few could’ve envisaged that Kulusevski would be absent for this long, and Frank will be desperate to call upon him at the earliest opportunity.

The ex-Serie A star bagged 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances last term, marking himself out as one of Spurs’ chief creators, and they’re a much better side when he’s available for selection.

Losing both him and Maddison has undoubtedly had a major effect on Tottenham, but it shouldn’t be too long before he takes to the pitch again.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has proven that he does have the adaptability and coaching nous to guide the team to safety in the Premier League this season.

The German tactician switched to a 3-5-2 formation from his usual 4-3-3 set-up against Chelsea and recorded a 3-1 win against the Blues, before picking up a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the next game.

Those four points in two games have lifted the Whites out of the bottom three and provided supporters with hope that they can avoid relegation this season.

The biggest winners from Leeds United's formation change

An obvious winner from the change in formation has been centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored three goals in three matches since the system change in the second half against Manchester City.

Like the English striker, Ao Tanaka appears to have been unleashed in this new system. The Japan international scored his first two Premier League goals against Chelsea and Liverpool.

Jaka Bijol has also looked at home at the heart of a back three, where his lack of pace is not exposed, as he has made 12 clearances without being dribbled past a single time, per Sofascore, in the last two matches.

This change in formation could also birth new winners in the squad in the coming weeks, as Farke tries different players in new roles in a bid to perfect the system.

For example, James Justin is one player who could emerge as a winner from the change in shape because he could end up being a perfect option for Joe Rodon’s new role.

Why James Justin could be a winner from Leeds United's new system

The Wales international has been playing as a right-sided centre-back as part of a back three or five, with Bijol in the middle and Pascal Struijk on the left, with Jayden Bogle at right wing-back and Gabriel Gudmundsson at left wing-back.

It worked brilliantly against Chelsea and Liverpool, opposition they were expected to sit back and counter against, but Farke may need to make tweaks to the side when there are games that require Leeds to commit more men forward and push higher up the pitch for longer periods.

With this in mind, playing Justin as the right-sided centre-back, with Rodon either dropping out or replacing Bijol as the central centre-back, could be a way to add variety to their approach, as he could play right-sided centre-back in a three or a five, or he could move over to right-back and Bogle could stay forward as a winger.

GK – Lucas Perri

GK – Lucas Perri

RWB – Jayden Bogle

RB – James Justin

RCB – James Justin

RCB – Jaka Bijol

CCB – Jaka Bijol

LCB – Pascal Struijk

LCB – Pascal Struijk

LB – Gabriel Gudmundsson

LWB – Gabriel Gudmundsson

CM – Ethan Ampadu

CM – Ethan Ampadu

CM – Ao Tanaka

CM – Ao Tanaka

CM – Anton Stach

CM – Anton Stach

RW – Jayden Bogle

ST – Noah Okafor

ST – Dominic Calvert-Lewin

ST – Dominic Calvert-Lewin

LW – Noah Okafor

As you can see in the table above, the English defender’s versatility would allow for a seemless transition from a 5-3-2, or 3-5-2, to a 4-3-3, or 4-2-3-1, depending on what the game needed.

Farke said that Leeds were “desperate” to sign Justin from Leicester in the summer, yet he has rarely been seen this season. The former England international has only played 169 minutes in the Premier League, per Sofascore, and started one of his seven appearances for the Whites in the division.

Now, this change in shape to a base 3-5-2 formation could provide the defender with an opportunity to come into the team and play a key role, because the right-sided centre-back position could be perfect for him.

Justin, by winning 59% of his ground duels and 55% of his aerial duels (Sofascore) in the Premier League last season, has proven that he can be a solid enough defender in his physical battles, whilst he is a full-back by trade and is reliable in possession.

That is why he could be perfect for this role that would require him to excel as both a third centre-back defensively and as a full-back in possession, should Farke tweak his tactics to allow for this more fluid version of the new system.

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ByDan Emery 5 days ago

This would leave either Rodon or Bijol on the bench, which may seem harsh after the last two results, but it is a move that could be more effective against teams that are in the bottom half of the table.