Kyle Walker will continue wearing the Manchester City captain’s armband for now – but has refused to reveal who the long-term skipper will be.
The England right-back has led City so far this term after previous incumbent Ilkay Gundogan left the club following last season’s treble success.
As in previous campaigns, the squad have held a vote to determine the make-up of the players’ leadership group, from which a senior figure usually emerges as captain.
Walker has revealed that this season the group comprises of himself, Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Bernardo Silva but has given no further information.
That could suggest De Bruyne, who is currently sidelined through injury, is the player who will ultimately take up the mantle but Walker insists it does not matter who it is.
“There is a captain but I just feel out of respect to everyone that’s involved in it, there’s no numbers,” said the England international.
“We’re a team and we (the leadership group) are a team inside a team, and whoever wears the armband or has the armband on the day, is going to wear the armband until the time is right, until certain members in that captaincy group feel it’s right to announce the number or the order.
“That’s what we’ll do but, until then, I’m wearing the armband because I was the third captain last season and I’ll continue to wear it for the rest of the season until the time’s right.
“I don’t even think it’s really necessary. We’re a team inside a team.”
City, after winning their opening five Premier League games, continued their strong start to the season with a comfortable 3-1 win over Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.
Walker feels City are constantly evolving as manager Pep Guardiola bids to keep his side ahead of their rivals.
He said: “I think that’s Pep being Pep. I think teams work us out, teams find the strategy of how they feel that they’re going to play or defend against us.
“When we can build up in different ways, I think that puts another tool in our toolbox where we can change it mid-game and it seems to be working for us.
“He’s got the key ingredient. He knows when’s right to let certain players go, bring players in, freshen things up here, give people challenges here and there.
“He’s got a fine balance and how to do it and it seems to work, not just here but at the number of teams that he’s been at because he’s been very successful.”
Wolves 1-2 Newcastle: Schar and Barnes stunners seals comeback victory
Two goals in five second-half minutes from Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes saw Newcastle come from behind to stun Wolves with a 2-1 win at Molineux on Sunday.
Mario Lemina had given the hosts the lead after rounding off a free-flowing counterattack late in the first half, sweeping home following a clever dummy from Joao Gomes.
Newcastle had earlier struck the post through Anthony Gordon, but Eddie Howe's men struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances before a series of half-time changes prompted an improvement.
Schar’s deflected strike levelled the scores with 15 minutes to play, then substitute Barnes went one better by curling a stunning effort beyond Sam Johnstone to secure the triumph.
The result keeps Wolves in the bottom three with just a single point, while Newcastle move up to third with 10, ahead of their meeting with Fulham next week.
Data Debrief: Magpies continue to soar
With 10 points after four games, Newcastle have made their best start to a Premier League campaign since the 1995-96 season, when they won each of their opening four matches under Kevin Keegan.
But the afternoon belonged to Schar and Barnes, with the Magpies scoring two goals from outside the box in the same Premier League game for the first time since April 2018 vs Leicester City (Ayoze Perez and Jonjo Shelvey).
Barnes has now been directly involved in 11 goals in his 25 Premier League appearances for Newcastle (seven goals and four assists), averaging a goal or assist every 87 minutes of league action for the Magpies.
Schar's strike from distance saw him net his fourth goal from outside the box since his Newcastle debut in 2018, more than any centre back in the competition.
Ex-wife of former Jamaica footballer Jorginho James shares harrowing details of assault: "He punched me eight times..."
The estranged ex-wife of former Jamaican footballer Jorginho James has come forward with harrowing details of an assault she endured on August 30. A video of the horrific assault that occurred inside his child’s daycare facility, has since gone viral.
In an interview with Fox 26, she recounted the frightening ordeal that is the latest in a series of incidents involving the 30-year-old former professional soccer player.
James, who has had previous run-ins with the law for family-related assaults, was first charged with a felony last month. Recalling one such incident, his ex-wife described a terrifying attack where James used a belt to strangle her. "He put a belt around my neck, and he strangled me," she said. "He kept me in the room for about an hour, two hours. He put the belt around my neck a second time and this time it was longer."
The ex-wife managed to call 911 during the ordeal, leading to James' arrest. However, he was released on bond just two days later. Court records indicated that James initially complied with the protective order and bond conditions placed upon him. However, this compliance reportedly came to an abrupt end on August 30.
According to the ex-wife, the incident on that day unfolded as James followed her while she was taking their two-year-old child to daycare. "As soon as I parked, he jumped into my back seat," she recounted. Fearing for her safety, she quickly exited the car and sought refuge inside the daycare while calling 911. However, this did not stop James. "While I'm still on the phone with them, that is when he started hitting me," she said. "He punched me eight times. I feel like he wouldn't have stopped if I wouldn't have fallen. He already had his arm ready to go a ninth time."
The brutal assault left the battered woman with severe injuries, including a large black bruise on her face, swelling, and a broken finger. "I can't use my right hand," she shared, adding that even two weeks after the attack, the physical effects are still evident.
Despite the severity of the attack, the charges against James were not upgraded to a felony. Instead, the August 30 assault was classified as a misdemeanor, with James only facing a second felony charge for violating a protective order or bond condition. "I was 100 per cent sure that he wasn't going to be able to come out this time," the flustered woman expressed, voicing her frustration and disbelief at the legal response.
Even though the District Attorney's Office filed a motion to deny bond, the court set it at $20,000. James currently remains free after posting bail.
In a message directed at James, the ex-wife said, "I hope he watches this or somebody he knows watches this, and he realizes that he hurt our daughter more than he hurt me. She's been screaming and crying in her sleep. I just need him to stay away and focus on himself and getting better so he can be a father to our daughter in the future if he gets a chance."
'I always win things in my second year' - Postecoglou insists Tottenham can win trophies
A defiant Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham have enough to win trophies this campaign as he "always wins things in his second year".
Gabriel Magalhaes scored the decisive goal for the Gunners in the 64th minute, profiting from some slack defending on a corner as he thumped in the winner.
Spurs had the better chances, especially in the first half, finishing the game with 15 shots overall, more than double what Arsenal managed (seven).
The hosts also dominated possession with 63.7% and entered the final third 62 times, but as they did against Leicester City on the opening day, they struggled to take their chances.
Asked if he thought his team had enough to challenge for silverware this season, Postecoglou told Sky Sports: "I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year," he told Sky Sports. "Nothing's changed. I don't say things unless I believe it."
Postecoglou has failed to beat Arsenal in three Premier League attempts and was left to lament their lack of a clinical edge after the match.
"It's very disappointing in a big game for us and our supporters. We didn't deliver so you have to take the pain from that," he added.
"It has been the story of our season so far, we played in their half and created chances, but we lack a bit of belief in the final third. That's what we need to fix. It was always going to be decided in moments, and they capitalised on theirs.
"It's me who has to give the guys the way forward. It's not for a lack of trying by the lads, we are just going through this early part of the season where we are playing well but not getting rewards for it.
"We handled set-pieces pretty well, but we switched off for one and paid the price."
Son Heung-min made his 19th Premier League appearance in the North London derby, with only Sol Campbell (22) playing in more among outfield players.
The Spurs captain struggled to make an impact though, worth just 0.04 expected goals (xG), and he echoed Postecoglou's frustrations.
"We dominated the game; the football was there, we just conceded from a set-piece again. We did it last season, and it is really frustrating," Son said.
"I am sure the fans are also very disappointed. We have to improve, 100%. It's a tough moment and we have to stick together.
"We are getting into the final third, but the players have to take the responsibility to score. It is the hardest part of football, making the right decision and being clinical.
"We will bounce back strong, there is a long way to go."
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