There's already been chatter about Dave Roberts possibly using Shohei Ohtani in the outfield for the Dodgers during the team's playoff run, and now there's a chance the three-time MVP could be used in another role during the postseason, too.
Ohtani is already expected to be in the starting pitcher rotation for Los Angeles in the postseason, but he could also be used as a relief pitcher, Roberts said on Wednesday. The manager noted that adding Ohtani to the bullpen is "something we're all talking about."
"I know that we are going to be talking about it," Roberts said, via ESPN. "I think the one thing you can say, though, is that we use him once every seven days, eight days, nine days … so to think that now it's feasible for a guy that's just coming off what he's done last year, or didn't do last year, to then now put him in a role that's very, very unique, because he's a very methodical, disciplined, routine-driven person. The pen is the complete opposite, right? You potentially could be taking on risk, and we've come this far, certainly with the kid gloves and managing."
It sounds like Ohtani being put in the outfield goes hand-in-hand with him being in the bullpen. Ohtani himself spoke about the possibility on Wednesday.
"I've had conversations with various people, and the idea of me pitching in relief has come up," Ohtani said. "As a player, I want to be prepared to handle whatever role is needed. If I do end up pitching out of the bullpen, I think that could also mean I'd need to play in the outfield afterward, depending on the situation. So I want to be ready for anything, no matter what comes my way."
This wouldn't be a new situation for Ohtani in his career, though. Back in 2021 while on the Angels, Ohtani pitched in relief and then went to the outfield to remain in the game on seven occasions. When Ohtani enters the game as a designated hitter, he loses that role once he's done relief pitching for the game. The Dodgers could then put him in the outfield to remain in the game.
The Dodgers still err on the side of caution of putting Ohtani on the mound, though, since he returned from the second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament back on June 16. In 13 games this season pitching, Ohtani's posted a 3.29 ERA with 54 strikeouts and 15 earned runs. On the other hand, Ohtani hasn't competed in the outfield all season. We'll see what the Dodgers decide to do once October rolls around.
India and Mumbai allrounder Shardul Thakur has been named the West Zone captain for the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy, starting on August 28.The 15-member squad includes India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, and middle-order batters Sarfaraz Khan and Shreyas Iyer. A total of seven Mumbai players have been named in the team.Ruturaj Gaikwad is among the 15, while Saurashtra’s Harvik Desai and Maharashtra’s Saurabh Nawale are the wicketkeepers.There was no place for Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane in the West Zone squad.Earlier in the week, South Zone had also named their squad with Tilak Verma as captain. East Zone have also named their squad, to be led by Ishan Kishan, with Mohammed Shami in the mix.The six-team Duleep Trophy is returning to the zonal format, with squads picked by the zonal selectors, and the tournament will start the 2025-26 domestic season. Last season, the tournament had four teams – India A, B, C and D – that were picked by the national selectors.South Zone were the winners when the Duleep Trophy was held in the zonal format in 2023-24.
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke is looking to follow in Marcelo Bielsa’s footsteps by steering the club clear of relegation in their first season back in the Premier League.
After a run of four straight losses, the Whites have picked up four points and scored six goals in two matches against Chelsea and Liverpool in the top-flight, which has pushed them out of the bottom three.
Farke has needed his players to step up in recent games to climb back out of the relegation zone, and several stars have shown that they have what it takes to deliver in the Premier League.
Ranking Leeds United's top performers this season
Joe Rodon, who has started all 15 games, has proven to be a reliable option at the heart of the defence, winning 69% of his ground duels in the top-flight, per Sofascore.
Gabriel Gudmundsson, signed from Lille in the summer, has also caught the eye at left-back, with 3.1 tackles and interceptions and 1.3 dribbles completed per game, per Sofascore, whilst exciting fans with his bombing runs down the left flank.
£17.4m signing Anton Stach has been one of the top three performers for the Whites, though, with his return of two goals and two assists as a box-to-box midfielder.
Leeds United’s top 5 performers this season
Rank
Player
1
Ethan Ampadu
2
Sean Longstaff
3
Anton Stach
4
Gabriel Gudmundsson
5
Joe Rodon
As you can see in the ranking above, we have placed Sean Longstaff in second place. He leads the team in ‘big chances’ created (six), but he has also only started ten of the 15 league games, per Sofascore.
That leaves the captain, Ethan Ampadu, in first place as Leeds United’s best Premier League performer since they sold Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City in 2022.
Why Ampadu is Leeds United's best Premier League player since Phillips
After Phillips was sold to City for £45m, after emerging as an England regular at Elland Road, the Whites were relegated from the top-flight in the 2022/23 campaign. No other player was able to step up and save them from trouble.
The English star was particularly impressive with Marcelo Bielsa, as shown in the graphic above, and he averaged 3.9 tackles and interceptions per game in midfield in his last Premier League season with Leeds.
Ampadu, now, is looking like the club’s best top-flight performer since Phillips departed. He was judged as an “indispensable” part of Leeds’ midfield in the words of scout Jacek Kulig when promotion was being eyed up, and since moving up a division, he has been a rock on the pitch in the middle of the park. It’s safe to say he could be the first player to lead the team to safety since the Man City midfielder was at the club.
Off the pitch, teammate Karl Darlow described him as a “brilliant” person who has “handled the pressure” of captaining Leeds in the Premier League, which speaks to the qualities that he provides as a leader within the group, and perhaps explains how the team pulled off the last two results despite such a poor run of form that preceded them.
On the pitch, his performances have been impressive. Ampadu lined up in the middle of the park in the games against Chelsea and Liverpool and caught the eye with his defensive nous.
Ethan Ampadu
Vs Chelsea
Vs Liverpool
Minutes
90
87
Pass accuracy
86%
87%
Tackle success rate
100%
100%
Duels won
6/11
3/6
Interceptions
2
1
Dribbled past
0x
0x
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Wales international was perfect in his tackles and did not allow an opposition player to dribble past him a single time, which shows how combative and reliable he was in midfield.
Ampadu has started all 13 of his appearances in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, and averaged an eye-catching 3.7 tackles and interceptions per game, which is just shy of the 3.9 that Phillips averaged in his final season with the club.
The former Chelsea starlet offers a similar presence to the England international at the base of the midfield for Leeds, sitting in front of the back four and screening play, making vital defensive interventions to regain possession and start attacks for his side.
He has won 60% of his ground duels and 53% of his aerial duels, per Sofascore, whilst only being dribbled past 0.6 times per match, which shows that Ampadu has been efficient and reliable in the middle of the park for Farke, as an ever-present when fit.
The new Rutter: Leeds open talks to sign £21m star in "the last few days"
Daniel Farke could win himself a new Georginio Rutter by securing this £21m star at Leeds United.
By
Kelan Sarson
4 days ago
Overall, the Welshman may well be the club’s best Premier League player since Phillips, not just for the quality that he clearly provides as a holding midfielder, but also for his leadership skills and how he handles the pressure of leading a Premier League side.
The New York Yankees didn't have Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, but late in a tie game, the team looked to the veteran slugger for some offense.
The Orioles were prepared for that, however. After Stanton entered the game as a pinch hitter, taking the place of Ryan McMahon, Baltimore opted to intentionally walk him to eliminate the home run threat.
Well, with Stanton being an absolutely abysmal baserunner, the decision to give him first base for free resulted in the end of his night. Aaron Boone quickly moved to pinch run for Stanton, who is a liability on the base paths, bringing in Anthony Volpe to take over at first base.
As quickly as Stanton's night started, it ended.
That's one way to make a contribution. Unfortunately, the Yankees weren't able to capitalize on Stanton's intentional walk, unable to get a run on the board to break the 1–1 deadlock.
Stanton's lack of mobility at this stage in his career means he's best served being utilized at DH. But with Aaron Judge occupying the role on Sunday, Stanton was out of the lineup and on the bench.
In 70 games this year, Stanton has a .916 OPS with 21 home runs and 56 RBIs.
Manchester United’s run of five games unbeaten in the Premier League is evidence that Ruben Amorim is certainly starting to get the best out of the current crop of players Old Trafford.
The 40-year-old’s stint in England has been nothing but plain sailing, as seen by his inability to lead the club to a respectable finish in 2024/25 – subsequently ending the year in 15th place.
However, the hierarchy have shown faith in the former Sporting CP boss, as seen by his £200m spending spree during the recent summer transfer window.
The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have all joined the Red Devils in the last few months, with the latter of the trio already scoring six combined goals in England’s top-flight.
Despite the mammoth investment within the attacking department, the manager is still craving a new central midfielder to help take his side to the next level in the years ahead.
Man United’s hunt for a new central midfielder in January
Over the last couple of weeks, Elliot Anderson has been the name on the lips of all United supporters, with rumours rapidly starting to circle over a move for his signature.
The Nottingham Forest star has risen to stardom over the last 12 months, with the 23-year-old featuring in every league game in 2025/26, even earning him a spot in the England squad under Thomas Tuchel.
It’s been reported in recent days that the Red Devils have already reached out to the Reds over a potential deal for the youngster, but have been quoted a fee in the region of £100m for his services.
However, Anderson isn’t the only midfielder currently in their sights, with the hierarchy also closely monitoring German star Angelo Stiller ahead of the upcoming window.
According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are preparing an offer in the region of €60m (£53m) for the Stuttgart star, with Real Madrid also interested in a move for his signature.
The report claims that his current employers don’t want to lose the 24-year-old in the near future, but they could be forced to if an acceptable offer is presented by the likes of United.
Why Stiller target would be their own Anderson
United fans have seen first-hand the talents that Anderson currently possesses, after the Forest star managed to run the show in the recent meeting between the sides at the City Ground.
He featured for the entirety of the contest and thrived in and out of possession, as Sean Dyche’s men secured a 2-2 draw against the Red Devils in the East Midlands.
The 23-year-old managed to create three chances for his teammates – offering a threatening option with the ball – whilst also making 14 recoveries and preventing Amorim’s men from extending their winning run.
Anderson’s ability to complete 100% of his dribbles and register 15 passes into the final third further showcases his phenomenal talents – with such a performance leaving the United fanbase demanding his signature.
However, English talents are always more expensive in the modern transfer market, as seen by the current £100m price tag that has been placed on his head at present.
Given the money spent in the summer, it’s unclear if the United hierarchy would splash such a sum, with a potential deal breaking their club-record transfer fee set by Paul Pogba in 2016.
As a result, a move for Stiller could prove to be a more realistic proposition, but that’s not to say he’s a lower quality talent than England international, Anderson.
The German has been labelled as a similar player to the 23-year-old by FBref in the Europa League this season, with the Stuttgart star even bettering him in numerous key areas to date.
Stiller, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has completed more key passes per 90, whilst also making more passes into the opposition box per 90.
Games played
10
11
Goals & assists
4
2
Progressive carries
2.2
1.3
Pass accuracy
86%
83%
Key passes
2.1
1.3
Passes into opposition box
2.3
1.2
Interceptions made
1.1
0.9
Clearances made
1.4
0.8
Take-ons completed
73%
50%
Such numbers are no mean feat, especially considering Anderson’s talents in possession, subsequently showcasing the phenomenal talent that the Stuttgart talent currently possesses.
He’s also registered more progressive carries per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, with such figures highlighting his dominance over the Forest star with the ball at his feet.
Angelo Stiller for Stuttgart
Stiller has managed to provide key talents out of possession too, even bettering the Englishman in terms of interceptions and clearances made per 90 in 2025/26.
The aforementioned figures could certainly make the German the perfect number six in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, which could finally end the club’s hunt for a new midfielder.
Anderson may remain as many supporters’ number one choice for the role, but ultimately, his current asking price is way above the range United would spend in January.
As a result, Stiller could offer a cheaper yet more effective option to the Red Devils, potentially helping the side make a top four push come the end of May.
Man Utd have a "future £100m" star who's Carrington's very own Anderson
Manchester United already have a star who could allow them to forget about signing Elliot Anderson.
Seamer Davey and wicketkeeper Tattersall to join from Somerset and Yorkshire respectively
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Aug-2025Leicestershire have confirmed the double signing of Josh Davey and Jonny Tattersall on three-year deals.Davey, who will depart Somerset, and Yorkshire’s Tattersall will officially join the club on November 1 following the expiry of their current contracts. ESPNcricinfo understands allrounder Ben Green will also be joining his county team-mate Davey in swapping Taunton for Grace Road, having spent time on loan there over the last two summers. Both Davey and Green turned down extensions to remain at Somerset.The acquisitions of Davey, 35, and Tattersall, 30, will add experience to an exciting young Leicestershire squad that are on the verge of a return to Division One for the first time since the club’s relegation in 2003.Related
Flying Foxes end Lord's drought to extend lead at the top
Singh Dale signs for Lancashire, Milnes heading back to Kent
Gloucestershire bring in Will Williams from Lancashire
Durham sign Aldridge and Bailey as Killeen heads to Essex
An international seamer with 62 caps for Scotland and appearances at two T20 World Cups, Davey has 214 first-class wickets at 24.25, along with 128 at 25.90 in List A cricket and 116 at 21.77 in T20. He has also spent this summer moonlighting as an opening batter for Somerset, and is familiar with Grace Road after a brief loan stint during the 2023 season.”I spoke to Fons [Alfonso Thomas] and Claude [Henderson], and it was clear they’ve got a collective vision for elevating the club to the next level,” Davey said in a statement via the Leicestershire website. “It’s going to be a very exciting place to be over the next three years.”I think it’s starting to shape into a competitive team. There’s a lot of talent in the squad and I hope to supplement that with the experience I’ve gained across all three formats over the last 15 years.”I met a lot of the guys during my loan here in 2023, and I loved the environment. Since then, the likes of Ben Green, Lewis Goldsworthy and Josh Thomas have all been and they have only come back saying positive things, which obviously helped steer my decision. Hopefully I can help to establish Leicestershire in the first division and look to push for some silverware. I believe we can become a real force in all three competitions over the next few years.”Jonny Tattersall captained Yorkshire to promotion last year•Getty Images
The addition of Tattersall, a keeper-batter, covers for the loss of Harry Swindells, who was forced to retire through injury last month.After debuting for Yorkshire in 2013, Tattersall went on to make 155 appearances for the club. His proudest moment came last season when he captained the county to a return to Division One, an ever-present throughout the 2024 summer, averaging 40.18 and affecting 29 dismissals.One of his two centuries last term came away at Leicestershire in September, leading to an innings victory that took Yorkshire into the promotion spots with two rounds to play. However, it was announced by Yorkshire earlier this month that he would be leaving at the end of the season.”Leicestershire is a club that has some great history behind it and has built a team that seems to be going places,” Tattersall said. “I can see a real purpose and a focus within the group with what they’re looking to achieve over the next few years, so it’s incredibly exciting to be asked to play a part in that journey.”Hopefully, I can bring experience of first division cricket and help guide a few younger lads in what that experience is like, as well as produce quality performances myself.”I’ll put in everything I’ve got to take my game to the next level and help Leicestershire win matches. Hopefully that will result in some more trophies.”Speaking on both signings, director of cricket, Claude Henderson, said: “Josh is a high-calibre operator that will offer a lot to the team in both red-ball and white-ball cricket. We know his character well and have no doubt he will be a great fit for Leicestershire. As a senior player with extensive Division One experience, his voice and all-round abilities will be a great addition to our changing room.”Jonny’s character, leadership skills and all-round cricket abilities are hugely impressive. He will bring vast experience to our changing room and further depth to our batting department, which will make him a significant asset to our squad.”
Chelsea have now submitted a £53m opening bid for an “incredible” Champions League star, with the same agent as Malo Gusto.
Blues make offer for Champions League star
Although the Blues were unable to hold on to all three points, they should take a lot of confidence from the performance against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, with Enzo Maresca’s side picking up a 1-1 draw despite having just 10 men for the majority of the game.
Maresca had to make do without Cole Palmer, who didn’t make it off the bench after recently recovering from a freak toe injury, while Jamie Gittens also remained unused, with Pedro Neto and Estevao getting the nod on the wings.
As such, the manager clearly has a lot of depth in attacking areas, with the Italian likely to be very impressed by Estevao’s performances in the Champions League this season, having netted three goals in his opening five games.
However, the west Londoners are still keen to get another attacker through the door, according to a report from Spain, which states Chelsea have now submitted a huge bid of €60m (£53m) for Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes.
Manchester United have also tabled an offer of the same amount, so there could be fierce competition for his signature, with both Premier League clubs of the belief Barnes would be a perfect fit for their respective playing styles, meaning they are making aggressive pushes to get a deal done.
The Blues are looking to sign the Newcastle star in the January transfer window, and he welcomes the interest from two of England’s biggest clubs, despite remaining happy at St. James’ Park.
"Incredible" Barnes on fire in the Champions League
Lauded as “incredible” by Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, the 27-year-old has been particularly impressive in the Champions League this season, having netted four goals in his opening five games, while also picking up one assist.
The former Leicester City man has also caught the eye in the Premier League as of late, bagging a brace to fire the Magpies to a 2-1 victory against Manchester City earlier this month.
However, there are doubts over whether the Englishman, who is represented by the same agent as Gusto, would be a necessary signing, given that Chelsea already have Pedro Neto and Gittens to choose from at left-wing.
Chelsea now ready to trigger £44m release clause for "unstoppable" striker
The Blues are looking to sign a new centre-forward, who has been in fantastic form so far this season.
ByDominic Lund Nov 30, 2025
Instead, it may be better to invest the money into other areas of the squad, with bringing in a new centre-forward perhaps more important, given that Liam Delap and Joao Pedro haven’t exactly been prolific so far this season, netting five goals between them in all competitions.
For the sixth time this season, Aaron Boone was ejected from a New York Yankees game. This time, he wasn't the only one, as he was accompanied by relief pitcher Devin Williams, who was also ejected Wednesday night. Boone was irate with the umpires over the strike zone after Williams surrendered four runs on one hit and three walks in his unsuccessful outing against the Houston Astros,
Boone was livid, and he gave home plate umpire Brian Walsh an earful as he delivered a scathing review of his performance behind the dish. Cameras caught much of Boone's tirade, and he wasn't holding back as he shouted at Walsh in frustration.
Among the comments made by Boone caught on the broadcast was the Yankees manager shouting, "You f––ing stink!" at Walsh before making his way to the dugout.
Williams was the first to go, as he had some choice words for the umpires after he was relieved by Camilo Doval during the eighth inning. Boone then came to the defense of his reliever before joining him in banishment.
Boone has been ejected 45 times in his eight years as manager of the Yankees, and he's tied with Cardinals manager Oli Marmol for the MLB lead in the 2025 season with six ejections.
India captain also says bowling three overs of Bumrah in the powerplay is a plan “to use him as an attacking option”
Shashank Kishore15-Sep-20251:13
Wahab: Kuldeep always one step ahead of batters
“Where’s my cake?” birthday boy Suryakumar Yadav asked, as he fielded questions at the press conference after India’s seven-wicket win against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday night.Suryakumar was, quite obviously, asked about India’s decision to not shake hands with Pakistan after the match. He was asked about sporting spirit, and if India’s actions were politically motivated. But beyond that, Suryakumar also gave more than just a peek into India’s thinking as they prepare for the Super 4s and beyond.For starters, Suryakumar was himself coming off a neat, little unbeaten 47 to see off India’s modest chase of 128 after Abhishek Sharma set the foundation. But Suryakumar deflected all his attention to the frontline spinners, and how they have made his job easier after they returned combined figures of 6 for 60 in 12 overs to restrict Pakistan to 127 for 9.Related
Frontloading Bumrah: will India's powerplay plan be put to the test?
How Kuldeep, Axar slammed the door shut on Pakistan
Kuldeep, Axar and Abhishek lead India to thumping win
Suryakumar: Staying not out is 'one box I wanted to tick'
Agha skips presentation after India refuse handshakes
“I gave all of them 12 overs combined – it was a return gift from me,” Suryakumar joked when asked if India’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy had given him the perfect birthday gift.”They’re all working hard; you can see it at practice. They want to prepare really well. Once you come to the ground, you can see how well they’re prepared. And they’re very clear with their plans – that’s what I want. It makes my job very easy when I’m on the ground. They’re happy with fields, [and] happy with ends they’re bowling from. It’s good to see all three spinners firing, very well supported by Hardik [Pandya] and Jasprit Bumrah.”While some of the on-field decisions can be instinctive, Suryakumar said part of India’s planning on how to bowl spin and whom to target was often planned keeping in mind the opposition. On Sunday, for example, the call to bowl Axar even with a left-hand batter like Fakhar Zaman at the crease was part of a plan even if it went against what he referred to as a “traditional match-up”.”We prepare well for every team. The coaches – we all sit together, see if there are left-handers, right-handers, how to bowl in the middle, how to start in powerplay,” Suryakymar said. “All this comes with preparation, so when we go on the field, everything moves on autopilot.”The other aspect to India’s bowling performance was how they used Bumrah. When he bowled three overs up front against UAE, it was presumed the move may have been to get some miles under him, ahead of bigger challenges. But Bumrah was used similarly against Pakistan too, which Suryakumar highlighted as part of India’s plans in trying to make all their bowlers take ownership.”Till today, we’ve bowled him two overs in the powerplay, he’s never bowled three in the powerplay,” Suryakumar said. “We’re very happy using him as an attacking option. If he picks two wickets, even if he bowls a tight spell of his overs, later on we can have a good cushion for all the spinners to come over and make our job a little easier.2:02
Bangar: Axar doesn’t really try too many things
“He’s very happy with it [this plan]. Few days, if he has to bowl only two overs, he’ll bowl only two overs, but at least me and the management want to use him as an attacking option. That gives a good platform to someone like Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube to raise their hand to bowl crucial overs in the end and also in the middle. So we’re very happy with that.”Suryakumar was also asked about his own game, and if it was a relief to finally come good in a T20I against Pakistan after managing just 64 runs in five previous innings prior to Sunday’s unbeaten 47 off 37 balls.”Whichever team you play, there’s pressure. If there’s no pressure, no butterflies in your stomach, you won’t have fun in being able to overcome it after going to the ground,” he said. “Numbers are up and down, but what can you do? You’ve got to see how you can be better. If today hadn’t gone right, no problems; I would’ve gone back to the drawing board and focused on doing well in the next match.”It felt good to finish the match. It was important to stay there in the moment. [With regards to] batting position, we’re clear with management. Apart from openers, all other batters will be flexible, got to prepare in such a way where you can bat anywhere. If you play seven batters, it’s important for everyone to make a small impact. Everyone has accepted it. Everyone is flexible. If you are flexible to bat anywhere, the team becomes even more dangerous.”
Tottenham boss Thomas Frank says a “not as highlighted” member of his Spurs squad is extremely underappreciated ahead of his side’s Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle on Wednesday.
Tottenham defence shines in 3-0 victory at Everton
On Sunday, the Lilywhites continued their solid start to the campaign overall by making history away to Everton.
Tottenham became the first away team to win at the brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Merseyside, with a brace from star defender Micky van de Ven and substitute Pape Sarr catapulting the north Londoners to third in the Premier League.
In the build up, much was made about Spurs’ problems with creativity in the final third, especially after a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last weekend and their tepid 0-0 draw away to Monaco in the Champions League — where goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario spared their blushes time and time again with fantastic saves.
Vicario did make a vital stop to prevent Everton from going 1-0 up with a fine, point-blank save from Jack Grealish before van de Ven opened the scoring midway through the first-half.
The Toffees did briefly equalise, only for the goal to be chalked off for a foul on Vicario, with van de Ven then doubling the away side’s lead by getting on the end of another corner just before half-time.
Vicario’s fine form continued, thwarting Beto’s acrobatic overhead kick with an excellent reflex save from close range before denying them again. Richarlison had a chance to kill the game off when he found himself in on goal, but Jordan Pickford frustrated the Brazilian with a one-on-one save.
However, the striker redeemed himself with an assist for Sarr in the 89th minute to seal all three points for Frank’s side – putting what was a torrid week behind them as they prepare for another tough trip to St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
Tottenham will be without nine players to face Eddie Howe’s side, with Frank confirming no changes to their absentee list from their win at Everton.
Tottenham absentee list to face Newcastle
Problem
Estimated return date
Dejan Kulusevski
Knee
22/11/2025
James Maddison
ACL
01/06/2026
Radu Dragusin
Knee
22/11/2025
Ben Davies
Thigh
23/11/2025
Yves Bissouma
Ankle/Foot
08/11/2025
Kota Takai
Ankle/Foot
08/11/2025
Cristian Romero
Groin
01/11/2025
Destiny Udogie
Knee
08/11/2025
Dominic Solanke
Ankle
08/11/2025
via Premier Injuries
While van de Ven stole all the headlines for his obvious contribution, January signing Kevin Danso also enjoyed an absolutely solid outing.
The 27-year-old, tasked with replacing Cristian Romero, has done an excellent job in the Argentine’s stead, especially against Everton, with Danso winning 100 per cent of his duels, both in the air and on the ground.
Danso also made a whopping 18 clearances at the Hill Dickinson, and his defensive heroics were key to Spurs coming away with a much-needed three points.
Vs Everton
Kevin Danso
Micky van de Ven
Minutes
90
90
Tackles won
1/1
0/0
Clearances
18
7
Blocked shots
2
0
Ball recoveries
3
2
Ground duels won
2/2
1/2
Aerial duels won
4/4
1/4
Stats via Sofascore
In the aftermath, Frank was quick to herald Danso’s contribution.
Thomas Frank says Kevin Danso is Tottenham's underrated star
Speaking after Tottenham’s win at Everton in a post-match press conference, Frank claimed Danso’s performance was “not as highlighted”, but just as vital to his side claiming victory.
When asked about Danso again before Tottenham’s trip to the North East, Frank piled more praise on the Austrian – claiming he deserves praise.
Danso was brought in at the start of the year to help Spurs during their defensive injury crisis under ex-boss Ange Postecoglou, and he’s hardly set a foot wrong.
Signed on an initial loan with which became permanent for £21 million in the summer, Danso is proving to be worth every penny, but reports suggest he could face stiff competition for minutes pretty soon.
Tottenham are believed to be in the market for another defender in January, despite Danso’s presence and Radu Dragusin coming back from injury, so it will be interesting to see how often he’ll feature for Frank if a new centre-back comes through the door.