Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted he is “not happy” with Marcus Rashford’s form but he remains convinced the England forward will get back to his best this season.
Rashford’s disputed red card in Copenhagen on Wednesday night contributed to a dramatic United collapse as they blew a 2-0 lead and conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes to lose 4-3, dropping to the bottom of Group A in the Champions League with two games left.
Gareth Southgate kept faith with Rashford by naming him in his England squad on Thursday, but a player who scored 30 goals for United in all competitions last season has only one from 15 appearances this term.
“I think he’s not happy, we are not happy,” Ten Hag said of Rashford’s performances. “We have an expectation. He has high expectations from himself. In this moment he is not in the best form but I know he will be back.
“I know when the team is playing better he will play better. He will go and score goals. I am confident of that. This season he will improve and score goals. He is totally in the team, he is aware of everything so I think he will be back on track.
“It can happen very quickly and sometimes you only need one game. I’m sure he will get there.”
The defeat in Copenhagen was United’s ninth from 17 games in all competitions so far, and they go into Saturday’s match at home to Luton eighth in the Premier League.
Asked if results had been acceptable this term, Ten Hag said: “It is about the end result and we have to win every game, so we are very disappointed to lose any game but finally it is about the end result.
“It is always about being in a process, thinking about a process and then it’s about managing the process. That’s the only thing I focus on.
“I think we have often proved we can, like at Fulham, like Brentford, that we can overcome big setbacks.”
United’s midweek defeat came at a cost too as Jonny Evans limped off early after pulling up off the ball.
The 35-year-old, who has been a regular starter in recent weeks, has been ruled out of the Luton match and may now also miss next week’s Euro 2024 qualifiers for Northern Ireland in what would be another blow for Michael O’Neill’s injury-hit squad.
“So we don’t have in this moment the full assessment and all the details but tomorrow he is out,” Ten Hag said.
“I can’t say (if he can go away with Northern Ireland) as we don’t have the finished assessment.”
Mason Mount has been another player in the spotlight, with the 24-year-old struggling to make an impression since his £55million summer switch from Chelsea.
Mount made his first start since early October in the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle on November 1 but was back on the bench against Fulham and Copenhagen, with questions being asked about his role in the side.
However, Ten Hag said there had been no change in his expectations of the player.
“It hasn’t changed at all,” Ten Hag said. “He started the season and then he got injured. It’s the worst moment for a new player to get injured because it stops the integration process. That was definitely a setback for us all and for him now he has to fight to get his place back.”
Dawid Malan knows that change is coming after England’s World Cup blowout and is realistic enough to accept that he could be swept away by the tide.
Malan has been one of the side’s strongest performers during a ragged title defence in India, scoring 373 runs at an average of 46.52, but at 36 years old looks vulnerable to a post-tournament cull.
A team loaded with thirty-somethings, including eight world champions from 2019, is likely to be broken up after one last outing against Pakistan at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Saturday, with the selectors set to look to the future.
Malan has more reason than most to resist. He spent years fighting for his opportunity and has put together an exceptional set of statistics in just 29 caps – only India’s Shubman Gill has ever scored more ODI runs with a better average and strike-rate – but is phlegmatic about his fate.
“Tomorrow could be my last game of cricket for England or it could still be the start of another journey. Who knows? We’ll only find out when the dust settles,” he said.
“I’m the second oldest in the squad…you’re quite realistic when you get to a certain stage. I don’t know what my future holds.
“Playing for England means everything for me. I’ve made no secret of that, I’ve always wanted to be part of this team for as long as I can but ultimately you get to a stage where you have to look a little bit further ahead and what’s best for the team. I guess there’s decisions to be made over the next couple of days and we’ll see where we end up.”
Malan last month signed a new one-year central contract which covers next summer’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States. But England’s desire for a fresh direction could prompt action in the shorter format too, and Malan hopes to get a clearer idea of his position from director of cricket Rob Key, who has just linked back up with the squad.
He is overseeing squad selection for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies and could also find himself in demand among players eager to find out where they stand.
“There could be a total overhaul for both (white-ball formats),” Malan said.
“I’ll probably have a chat with Rob in the next couple of days before I fly out, just to find out how he sees it and the direction he wants to go in. As long as people are honest, you can take that. And I’m pretty sure he will be. It’s been the hallmark of him since he’s taken over.”
When the fixtures were first released for the tournament, a final group game England versus Pakistan would have been highlighted as a contest with plenty of interest hanging on it ahead of the semi-finals.
Instead, it could prove a hollow excursion. England are only really playing for a place at the Champions Trophy in 18 months – which could be theirs even in defeat – while Pakistan need a historically ridiculous margin of victory to reach the knockouts.
“There’s massive regret from us all that we haven’t been able to perform as well as we would have liked,” Malan said of a campaign comprising six defeats and two wins.
“We’d have loved to be here at the business end, replicating what that fantastic team did in 2019 and what we did in the T20 World Cup in 2022, but it just hasn’t been like that and I think as a group reflecting on it, we’re extremely disappointed.”
England could hand Brydon Carse a first appearance of the tournament, with the Durham seamer one of those with a role to play in the rebuild, while Harry Brook should keep his place as a torch-bearer of the coming generation.
Malan is certain Brook is on course for a glittering future but urged against weighing his 24-year-old Yorkshire team-mate down with expectation.
“I feel like there’s been so much pressure put on Harry’s shoulders, almost as if he was the saviour of English cricket,” he said.
“The poor kid is still learning his way and he’s still trying to find his feet in international cricket and learn his game. Hopefully he learns from this as well and from all the pressure that’s been put on his shoulders, and he can find a way to keep getting better because I think he’s an exceptional talent.
“I can see him playing 100 games for England across all formats of the game and I hope he does. Harry is one of the quickest learners I’ve seen as a young player and hopefully he can keep learning and hit those heights that we all know he’s capable of achieving.”
Charlie Appleby’s Local Dynasty heads the market on his all-weather debut in the relocated Virgin Bet November Handicap.
The contest usually brings the curtain down on the turf Flat season at Doncaster, but persistent rain has left Town Moor saturated with areas of pooled water forcing a switch.
Newcastle have therefore stepped in to host the event on their all-weather track, changing the complexion of the race somewhat as entrants were likely expecting soft ground when they factored this contest into their plans.
Godolphin’s Local Dynasty heads the betting, a son of Dubawi trained by Appleby who was a Listed winner last season but is without a win this campaign, though he has been running in hot company.
The three-year-old has since been gelded and makes his first start after the procedure, with the run also his first away from the turf in his seven outings to date.
Appleby said: “Local Dynasty is a solid horse and we feel that conditions at Newcastle are there to suit.
“He ran well in two big handicaps at Royal Ascot and Newmarket earlier in the season and should be a player over this trip.”
Julie Camacho’s Beraz is also unfamiliar with the Tapeta but has figured well for his stable in four starts since leaving behind a brief hurdles career with Dan Skelton.
The winner of two Flat handicaps and second in another, Beraz seems to be on the up and the switch to Newcastle has permitted his participation as he would not have been a runner at Doncaster.
Camacho’s husband and assistant Steve Brown said: “We would not have run Beraz on heavy ground but, once the race was switched to the all-weather, we were keen to have a go.
“We are happy with where he is at the moment. He has improved all year and shown himself to be a horse with a fair level of ability.
“We have been trying to progress quietly with him and Saturday will be a bigger test. It looks a very competitive race, as you would expect, but I think we are on for a big run.”
Also running is Edward Bethell’s Chillingham, a four-year-old last seen finishing fourth in the Silver Bell at Hamilton and the runner up in the Ripon Bell-Ringer before that.
Andrew Balding has a contender in the top-weight Teumessias Fox, King Power Racing’s Lope De Vega four-year-old who has collected prize money at Group level and was most recently seen partaking in the Racing League.
George Boughey and Amo Racing are represented by Mr Alan, fifth in the turf running of this race last year and competitive in autumn handicaps this year.
William Haggas runs Laafi, Harry Eustace has entered Mustazeed and Richard Fahey will saddle Furzig, with Jim Goldie’s popular veteran Euchen Glen also running.
Steven Naismith admits there is nothing he can say to win over his detractors at the moment but the under-pressure Hearts boss remains adamant his side are moving in the right direction overall and can still get themselves into third place.
The Jambos are fifth in the league at the end of the first round of fixtures and were defeated 3-1 by Rangers in last Sunday’s Viaplay Cup semi-final.
Naismith has been criticised by supporters over the past month amid a run of one win from five, although three of those matches were against the big two of Celtic and Gers.
Asked what he would say to those who are sceptical about how his reign is shaping up, Naismith – who took over permanently in the summer – said: “I don’t think there’s anything I can say. Everybody’s got their opinion.
“Everybody thinks they understand what it takes to be successful and what should be done. But when you’ve got a large fanbase, there will be a lot of different opinions within that group.
“When you’re at a big club the criticism will be there when you’re not winning games. Internally we all still believe what we are doing will bring us success.
“We’ve seen progression from where we were in the summer to now. In the games it’s been small margins that have cost us. If we can cut that out, I believe (things will improve). This round of games is important for us.”
Hearts are five points adrift of third-place St Mirren, but can take some heart from the fact Aberdeen and Hibernian – the other two sides to have finished third in the previous three campaigns – have also made inconsistent starts and sit beneath them in the table.
Naismith, who remains irked at the way his team squandered winning positions against Hibs and Rangers last month, still feels third is within his team’s grasp.
“It helps in this situation (that nobody has pulled away in third) but we want to be that team that is having that consistency, putting points on the board and effectively creating a gap,” he said ahead of Saturday’s trip to Motherwell.
“After one round of games, it’s very tight and this next round of games are very important for most teams in the league.
“I firmly believe the club should be challenging for third, being in Europe and trying to win silverware. That’s definitely got to be the aim.
“To get there, you sometimes take a setback, and getting knocked out of the semi-final of a cup is a setback but if we can then go into the next competition and get closer and maybe win it, that shows there has been progress.
“But progression is not going to happen from one day to the next.
“You’ve got to give it time, accept there are good points and bad points, but if you reflect over a period of time and the club is moving in the right direction, that is progress which then leads to success.
“As a player, I’ve been at clubs that have a demand to win. I’ve been at clubs where the style’s changed from one extreme to the other and you’ve got to believe in the process and have a real belief that this will work.
“I’ve been through it and that’s what I draw on. That’s why I believe that we will be successful because I’ve seen it in the past as a player and we’re not far away.”
Ange Postecoglou has revealed Tottenham are set to be without Micky van de Ven and James Maddison until January.
Centre-back Van de Ven and midfielder Maddison suffered hamstring and ankle injuries respectively in Monday’s 4-1 loss at home to Chelsea.
Spurs also had Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie sent off during their first defeat of the season, which means Postecoglou will be without several key players for Saturday’s trip to Wolves.
“Fair to say a fair bit happened after Monday,” boss Postecoglou reflected.
“Micky obviously with that hamstring injury, we knew it was fairly significant, probably a couple of months for him looking into the new year.
“Madders is a lot worse than we thought. He came off with an ankle injury and the next day wasn’t great, so we sent him for a scan. Again probably into the new year for him.
“Richy (Richarlison) should only be a month so not too long after international break, so they are the main ones, but we’ve got a couple of suspensions as well.
“Ben Davies is back and available. (Pedro) Porro is fine, he trained no problem.”
Connections are keen to take advantage of a chance change of plan with Hansard, who will bid for JenningsBet Elite Hurdle glory at Wincanton on Saturday.
The able five-year-old has won two of his four starts for Gary Moore and bounced back from a disappointing outing when sent off favourite for the Dovecote at Kempton with a creditable fourth in the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in the spring.
Owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates, he was being aimed at Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle later this month, but having seen his intended prep race on the Flat at Nottingham washed out, there has been a change of heart and Hansard will now head to Wincanton for his seasonal return.
Fehily said: “We were gearing up to run him on the Flat with the plan of going for the Greatwood, but then we didn’t get the chance to run him on the Flat and this race presented itself, so we thought this may be a better starting point. We’re rolling the dice here and we’ll see how we get on.
“He’s a horse we like and he’s only had four runs over hurdles. He’s won two and was obviously fourth in the Grade One at Liverpool. He’s a nice horse and hopefully he can progress a little bit this season and we can have some fun with him.”
There is a maximum field of five for a race won last year by Paul Nicholls’ Knappers Hill and the champion trainer is set to be well represented once again by Rubaud.
The mount of Harry Cobden arrives having won his last three starts and impressed at Kempton on reappearance, with his handler hoping to tee up a shot at Constitution Hill at the Sunbury track on Boxing Day.
“An improving young horse with a bright future, he has plenty in his favour after a classy success at Kempton on his seasonal debut in a Listed event last month when he gave weight to all his rivals,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“He continues to work stylishly at home and is at his best going right-handed on a flat track like Wincanton. I’ve left off the hood he has worn on his last three starts because he doesn’t need it any more.
“The ground should be fine for Rubaud who has a first-rate chance and could well be taking on Constitution Hill at Kempton over Christmas.”
Knappers Hill himself has a fine chance of scoring at the meeting for the second year running when he lines up in the Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase.
Although only second on his chasing bow at Chepstow, he is by far the classiest operator in the field for the Grade Two event and is fancied better than his initial outing over the larger obstacles.
Nicholls continued: “He’s a classy horse, has won 10 of his 17 starts, and jumped nicely when second on his chasing debut at Chepstow.
“That was a pleasing start, he has come on bundles since then and has strong claims in this.
“I remember Silviniaco Conti getting beaten in the same Chepstow race before winning the Rising Stars at Wincanton.”
The unbeaten Doyen Star and highly-regarded Givega will make their fencing bows in opposition, while Irish raider Captain Conby impressed at Killarney in the summer before bumping into Willie Mullins’ Sharjah in a Grade Three at Tipperary.
It will be trainer Eamon ‘Dusty’ Sheehy’s first runner at Wincanton and he said: “It’s probably a stronger race than I thought it might have turned out to be, but I’m looking forward to running him and we will see where he fits in the pecking order.
“He jumps his fences good and I do believe he has improved a little bit from his Tipperary run. We’re hoping for the best.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has softened his opinion over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s versatility as a potential midfielder but still believes he best serves the team from his natural right-sided role.
Just over two years ago, after the 25-year-old was deployed in a central position against Andorra by England boss Gareth Southgate, Klopp said there was no need to change the defender into a midfielder.
Those lines have been blurred since Alexander-Arnold started performing the hybrid role of stepping into central areas when Liverpool are in possession and Klopp took it one step further in last month’s Carabao Cup win at Bournemouth when he brought him on to replace holding midfielder Wataru Endo for the final half-hour.
Alexis Mac Allister has been performing the number-six role in the Premier League despite it being an unfamiliar one to him but the Argentina international is suspended for Sunday’s visit of Brentford after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Endo, who was a late addition to the squad in August, has started only one league game in the role but was already off the pitch by the time the side forged a late comeback at Newcastle.
His starts have mainly come in the Carabao Cup and Europe but he was one of a number of players who underperformed in the 3-2 defeat by Toulouse and his display was not the best preparation – he was replaced at half-time – to step in for Mac Allister at the weekend.
Klopp was asked whether Alexander-Arnold was a potential option, considering how thin the midfield resources are with Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic long-term absentees, Curtis Jones out till after the international break and Ryan Gravenberch doubtful with a knee problem.
“(A) possibility, depends on the situation and the opponent, on a lot of things,” said the German.
“We know he can play there but if we just put him there we lose one of the best right-backs in the world so we should not forget that completely.
“Of course he is an option for that position.”
Mac Allister was one of only two players retained from Sunday’s draw at Luton to start against Toulouse as Klopp knew he would get an enforced rest this weekend.
But, even in his preferred position slightly further forward, the World Cup winner struggled like many of his team-mates as Liverpool’s three-match winning run in the competition came to an end and placed greater significance on their final two games – even though they are still group leaders.
“We were not good enough defensively. We missed so many challenges and that cannot happen when we play with the high line,” Mac Allister told liverpoolfc.com.
“It is what it is, we will try to improve and go again on Sunday because we have a very important game.”
Mac Allister was involved in the most contentious incident of the night when Jarell Quansah’s last-minute equaliser was ruled out for a handball by the Argentinian after a VAR referral.
“It’s a weird one because the referee said goal and then 10 seconds later he changed the decision,” he added.
“I don’t know exactly how the rule is but it first hit my chest so it’s weird. But it’s not an excuse, we didn’t play well.”
Sense Of Duty will return to the scene of her finest hour as she bids to end the year on a high in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Wentworth Stakes at Newcastle.
The six-furlong Listed event has been switched from its original home of Doncaster to Gosforth Park and could prove a fitting place for William Haggas’ speedster to return to winning ways having brought up a four-timer over course and distance in the Chipchase Stakes in the summer of 2022.
Injury has curtailed her progress since then, but she has graced the track twice this autumn and now drops in class having last been seen on British Champions Day in Group One sprinting action.
“She had a long break and ran well at Newbury on reappearance over an inadequate trip, but to be honest was probably a little bit disappointing at Ascot,” said Richard Brown, racing manager for owners St Albans Bloodstock.
“She was very impressive when she won the Chipchase at Newcastle so going back up there to the same course and distance, we will see if history could repeat itself.
“William’s horses are in great form and it would be great to put her away with a win under her belt.”
Nick Bradley’s syndicates have a trio of fillies entered for the race, headed by the Grant Tuer-trained Sophia’s Starlight.
The three-year-old has won four times this year and went close last time out when second in the Listed Boadicea Stakes at Newmarket in mid-October.
“Sophia’s Starlight is probably first string, we think she’s a very good filly and she’ll win a Group race, she’s one we’re excited about going forward,” said Bradley.
“At Newmarket she ran very well, she was just a bit unlucky. Had this race been on turf in heavy ground I’d have been quite bullish, obviously it’s switched but in our mind she’s still our first string.”
The Karl Burke-trained Secret Angel runs for the same ownership group, another three-year-old who finished 10th in the same race as Sophia’s Starlight last time out but has some taking form at stakes level on her CV otherwise.
“Cliff (Lee) takes the ride, she needs to put her last run behind her,” Bradley said.
“I was keen to run here as it’s her last opportunity to try to win a stakes race in the UK, I think on her best form she’d be there or thereabouts.”
Glorious Angel makes up the Bradley runners, another filly trained by Tuer and one who has been the runner up on her last three outings.
“Glorious Angel has been running really well on the heavy ground as of late, she’s a game, game filly and she tries her heart out,” the syndicate manager said.
“She’s been a bit unlucky, she’s been second three times but she’s made 30 grand in prize money so the owners aren’t complaining.
“Again, if it was on heavy ground I’d fancy her chances, she’s proven on the all-weather but I think to a slightly lower level than her heavy ground form.
“She tries her heart out and if she finishes in the first three, I’ll be buzzing.”
David O’Meara’s Aberama Gold and Hugo Palmer’s Brad The Brief are others with leading claims.
Giannis Antetokounmpo feels he is rediscovering his best form after a 54-point turn against the Indiana Pacers.
Antetokounmpo starred for the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, adding to his points tally with 12 rebounds, though it was not enough as the Pacers clinched a 126-124 victory.
Indeed, the two-time MVP was partly at fault as he committed two turnovers with the Bucks trailing 122-121 in the closing stages of the fourth quarter.
Antetokounmpo has only finished with more points once in his career. Across his eight games this season, the 28-year-old is averaging 28.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
"I was just; my legs were feeling good," Antetokounmpo said, as per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"I was on balance. I feel strong. I feel like I could attack angles like I have been in the past.
"I've been feeling like this the last three games. That means I'm kind of getting my rhythm back, so I'm kind of happy about that.
"But at the end of the day, it does not matter because we didn't get a win. Hopefully, we can go to Orlando and get a win."
Reflecting on his mistakes down the stretch, Antetokounmpo added: "I didn't take care of the ball on two possessions. I had to shoot the ball, I didn't shoot the ball. But I was gassed and they were able to get a win."
Antetokounmpo's teammate Khris Middleton suggested the other Bucks must take more responsibility, though.
"You could see nobody out there could guard him tonight," Middleton said.
"It was either a layup, dunk or a foul. And I think he realised that, he sensed blood, and he went for it every time. That's what we need on nights like tonight.
"Unfortunately, we couldn't get the win with it. But he did a great job of attacking, seeing double teams, kicking out, knowing when to attack, knowing when to wait.
"Just being patient. I thought he played a great game. [We have] just got to be better at the end for him there, help him out a little bit more."
The Bucks, who are 5-3 for the season, face the Orlando Magic on Saturday in their next outing.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe could finalise a deal to become a minority shareholder at Manchester United during the upcoming international break.
Ratcliffe’s Ineos Group is expected to pay in the region of £1.25billion for a 25 per set stake in the Old Trafford club, while also acquiring significant control over footballing operations.
There is no a firm timetable for the deal to be finalised, but the PA news agency understands it could come as early as next week, with Ineos optimistic it will be done before the Premier League campaign resumes on November 25 after the international break.
Reports that the deal could come as soon as Monday have, however, been dismissed as that is the date of Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral.
It is almost a year since the Glazer family announced, on November 22, 2022, that they were considering “strategic alternatives” to help the club grow, which included consideration of a sale.
Qatari Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Ratcliffe emerged from a large field of interested parties, and made offers in the region of £5bn for a complete takeover, but that fell short of the Glazer family’s valuation.
Sheikh Jassim then withdrew from the process last month, while Ratcliffe continued to pursue a minority shareholding which could later be increased.
The 71-year-old, who tried to buy Chelsea last year, grew up in the Manchester region and describes himself as a lifelong fan of United.
The deal is expected to lead to a major shake up of United’s football operations. Sir Dave Brailsford, the former performance director of British Cycling, is expected to take on significant influence in his role as Ineos’s director of sport.
The group already owns French Ligue 1 club Nice and Swiss club Lausanne, as well as the Ineos Grenadiers cycling team and Ineos Britannia – the sailing team led by Sir Ben Ainslie.
They also have a stake in Formula One team Mercedes, whose team principal Toto Wolff last week said he would also consider investing in United once Ratcliffe’s deal is completed.
Ongoing speculation and uncertainty over the club’s ownership has come at a time when United are struggling on the pitch.
Wednesday’s stunning 4-3 defeat to Copenhagen has left Erik ten Hag’s side bottom of their Champions League group, while they are eighth in the Premier League, having lost nine of 17 games in all competitions.
Highly-rated striker Evan Ferguson has signed a new contract with Brighton which ties him to the club until 2029.
The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland international has extended his existing deal with the Seagulls, amid reports that other Premier League clubs were tracking his progress.
“Evan deserves this new contract and he has a very big future ahead of him,” Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi said.
Ferguson joined Brighton from Irish side Bohemians in January 2021 and made his first-team debut later that year in a Carabao Cup tie against Cardiff.
He has scored 15 times for the first team since then, having opened his account against Arsenal last December.
Brighton technical director David Weir said: “Evan is a brilliant young talent and we are delighted for him.
“He’s shown his ability at club and international level, after breaking into the team at the start of the year, and we are looking forward to working with him and watching his continued progress.”
Ferguson made his senior Ireland debut in March, scoring in a 3-2 win over Latvia.
Connections are hopeful Stage Star will give his legion of owners plenty to shout about when the Cheltenham Festival hero returns in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday week.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the seven-year-old is 5-1 favourite with the sponsors ahead of his return in the prestigious handicap that is the feature of Cheltenham’s three-day November meeting.
It is at Prestbury Park where Stage Star enjoyed some of his finest moments over fences last term and having carried a huge weight to victory on Festival Trials Day, returned in March to claim the Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase with a fine front-running display.
His course form gives his ownership team plenty of hope ahead of his seasonal reappearance and although disappointing when a heavy favourite on his final start of the 2022-23 campaign at Aintree, he is yet to finish outside of the first two when running between October and December.
“He’s in good form and obviously likes the track,” said Dan Downie of Owners Group, owners of Stage Star.
“He’s ready to go and this has been the target for a while. It’s going to be tough and he’ll be carrying a lot of weight, but Paul is happy with him and we’re looking forward to running him.
“We looked at a few options, but he does need to go left-handed, so we were a bit short on where we could go, But we know he loves the track so we thought this would be a reasonable starting point for him.”
Naomi Osaka will make her return to tennis at the Brisbane International to start next season.
The four-time grand slam champion has not played a match since September 2022, taking the whole of this year off and giving birth to daughter Shai in July.
“I am really excited about getting back out on court and competing,” said Osaka. “I always love starting my season in Brisbane and can’t wait to return. The Brisbane International is such a great tournament and will set me up for a brilliant comeback this summer.”
The 26-year-old had played an increasingly sparse schedule before her maternity leave, stepping away from the court several times to prioritise her mental health.
But, speaking to ESPN during the US Open, she said of her time away: “It really raised my love for the sport. It made me realise I’m not going to play forever. I have to embrace the times. I’ve been playing tennis since I was three.
“I don’t think I can predict what I’ll do. I never am able to do that, but it definitely made me appreciate a lot of things that I took for granted.”
Osaka will play her first grand slam since the US Open in 2022 at the Australian Open, which she won in 2019 and 2021, later in January.
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Also playing at the Brisbane International, which takes place from December 31 to January 7, will be Andy Murray.
“It’s great to see the Brisbane International back and I am really looking forward to returning to Queensland this summer,” said Murray.
“I have great memories of winning the title in 2012 and 2013 and I would love to lift the trophy again for a third time in Brisbane.”
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison has been withdrawn from the England squad due to injury.
The 26-year-old was taken off during the first half of Spurs’ 4-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea on Monday with an ankle injury, and his club have now confirmed he is unavailable for England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers at home to Malta on November 17 and away to North Macedonia on November 20.
Spurs said in a statement that the player would continue his rehabilitation at their Hotspur Way training centre under the supervision of club medical staff.
Maddison had been included in the initial 25-man squad named by England manager Gareth Southgate on Thursday.
England sealed qualification for next summer’s Euros in Germany in their last qualifier, a 2-1 win over Italy at Wembley last month.
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