Former Leeds United sporting director Victor Orta was relieved of his duties shortly before the end of the 2022/23 campaign as his decisions played a part in the club's eventual relegation.

The Whites dropped down to the Championship from the Premier League as the Spanish chief's signings and managerial appointments failed to keep the side in the top-flight.

Orta, who is now with Sevilla in LaLiga, had his fair share of transfer failures, and successes, throughout his time at Elland Road as he splashed the cash, with mixed results.

Brenden Aaronson

£28.4m

Rodrigo

£25.9m

Dan James

£25.1m

Georginio Rutter

£24.2m

Luis Sinisterra

£21.6m

As you can see in the table above, the former Leeds director had the opportunity to spend good money on a number of players but they were not enough to prevent relegation back down to the second tier.

However, Orta also deserves praise for some of his superb pieces of business, such as hiring head coach Marcelo Bielsa and signing Brazil international Raphinha.

One move that the Spanish mastermind made that looks to have struck gold with was the signing of young forward Mateo Joseph, who is already starting to blossom in England.

How much did Leeds pay for Mateo Joseph?

The Whites reportedly spent £900k to sign the teenage dynamo from Espanyol during the January transfer window at the start of 2022.

European giants Barcelona and Manchester City were said to be keen on the talented youngster but TEAMtalk claimed that Orta's 'persistence' paid off as the ex-Leeds chief was eventually able to secure a deal for him ahead of the competition.

He arrived at Elland Road off the back of 14 goals in 21 matches for Espanyol's U19 side during the 2020/21 campaign, which included a hat-trick against Barcelona B.

His three-goal haul against the Catalan giants highlighted his quality as he found the back of the net from the penalty spot, scored an excellent solo goal, and showed good movement to be in the right place for a tap-in. This showcased his ability to score a variety of goals from a centre-forward position.

Joseph's impressive goalscoring record for the Spanish side suggested that there was a promising finisher to be unearthed and Orta was able to snap him up ahead of, arguably, bigger clubs in order to bolster the club's U21 side.

How much was Joseph worth in 2022?

In 2022, FootballTransfers placed the teenage striker's Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at just €300k (£260k) as the forward had not proven himself in England or at U21 level.

He had only excelled for Espanyol's U19 side and this suggests that Orta spent £900k on the attacker in the hope that Joseph would be able to translate his form to older age groups, and beyond, as well as being able to adapt to life in another country.

The former Leeds sporting director may have been left questioning his own decision as the Spanish-born forward struggled throughout the second half of the 2021/22 campaign.

Joseph arrived in Yorkshire during the January transfer window and only scored two goals in 11 appearances in all competitions for the academy.

He found the back of the net once in seven U21 games and also produced one goal and one assist in four outings for the U18 team in his first five months at the club.

The England U20 international was unable to hit the ground running as his excellent goalscoring form for Espanyol was not replicated during the first half of 2022.

How many goals did Joseph score last season?

Orta's potential fears, however, would have been alleviated by the English ace's exceptional form for the academy throughout the 2022/23 campaign as he plundered 17 goals in all competitions.

The 19-year-old gem, who can operate as a centre-forward or out wide on the left flank, caught the eye with an impressive return of 16 goals and two assists in 21 Premier League 2 outings for the U21s.

Joseph showcased his ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis as a number nine for Leeds, with a strike every 1.31 matches on average, and also displayed his creative quality in the EFL Trophy against lower league opposition.

The former Espanyol prodigy averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.97 across three games against Bolton, Tranmere, and Crewe as he created two 'big chances' and produced 1.7 key passes per game, to go along with one goal.

His form at youth level caught the eye of the first-team last term as Joseph went on to play six senior matches throughout the 2022/23 campaign, although the teenage finisher was unable to net his first goal for the club.

How much is Mateo Joseph worth now?

At the time of writing (08/10/2023), FootballTransfers has the exciting marksman's xTV at up to €1.9m (£1.6m) and this means that his value has soared by a whopping 515% from the initial €300k that he was valued at in 2022.

Joseph's fantastic performances for the U21 side, along with his senior debut, last season have led to his xTV rocketing up over the last 12 months and the next step for him is to emerge as a regular option for the first-team.

Manager Daniel Farke recently hailed Joseph as being "really sharp" and claimed that the striker will play an "important" role in the club's future, which suggests that the German head coach has been impressed by what he has seen from the youngster in training.

It is now down to the England U20 international to prove to the ex-Norwich boss that he deserves to play regular football at Championship level alongside the likes of Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe.

The current front two have scored seven league goals between them this season and Joseph, therefore, has a tough task to break into the side this term.

However, the English dynamo has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and progress over the years to come, at the age of 19, and could be a future star for Farke, rather than someone who will make a big impact over the next few months.

As it stands, Joseph looks set to be an excellent signing by Orta if he can carry on his form and progress into the first-team whilst watching his value soar at the same time.

Pakistan played out 69 dots, hit four fours and limped to 72. It proved too little against the six-time champions

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2018ICC

With a direct entry into the final at stake, 69 dot balls, four boundaries and 72 for 7 is all Pakistan managed after electing bat against defending champions India. Four of the six frontline bowlers India employed till the halfway mark, claimed a wicket each in their first over. The outcome? Pakistan slumped to 36 for 4 and laboured to another 36 for 3 in the last ten. Then, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur sealed six-time winners’ seven-wicket win with a four, and Ekta Bisht bagged her third successive Player-of-the-Match award in as many appearances against Pakistan for her 3 for 14.Setting the tone of the marquee clash, Shikha Pandey bowled opener Nain Abidi for a duck before her quick-bowling, new-ball partner Jhulan Goswami propped it up with a maiden. Two overs of spin followed during which offspinner Anuja Patil and left-arm spinner Bisht removed Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof and Javeria Khan for four runs each. A second over for Goswami – the fifth in the innings – was to be the last of pace in the first ten as offspinner Deepti Sharma had Nahida Khan stumped in her opening over too.Pakistan struggled for momentum after the early collapse as wristpinner Poonam Yadav snaffled a return catch from pinch-hitter Nida Dar before Bisht completed her three-for off her remaining two overs. Pakistan’s only boundary since the fourth over came in the 20th over courtesy Diana Baig. The No.9 batsman kept Sana Mir company who farmed 20 off 38 balls in a bid to prevent her side from being bowled out.India’s chase weren’t without any hiccups, though. Left-arm spinner Anam Amin dismissed Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma for a duck each to leave India teetering at 5 for 2 inside three overs. A patient 65-run third-wicket stand between Harmanpreet and her deputy Smriti Mandhana took India to 70 for 3 before the other Pakistan left-armer, Nashra Sandhu, had Mandhana hole out for a 40-ball 38. Harmanpreet’s three fours in her unbeaten 49-ball 38 helped mop up the chase with 23 balls to spare.

كشف ليونيل سكالوني، المدير الفني لمنتخب الأرجنتين، عن تشكيل اللاعبين لمباراة الإكوادور، في منافسات بطولة كوبا أمريكا 2024.

ويواجه منتخب الأرجنتين نظيره الإكوادوري، في إطار منافسات الدور ربع النهائي من بطولة كوبا أمريكا في تمام الساعة الرابعة فجراً بتوقيت “القاهرة”، على ملعب “إن آر جي ستاديوم”.

وتأهل المنتخب الأرجنتيني إلى منافسات الدور ربع النهائي من بطولة كوبا أمريكا، بعدما نجح في تصدر المجموعة الأولى بالعلامة الكاملة بحصده 9 نقاط.

بينما تأهل منتخب الإكوادور إلى الدور ذاته بعدما حل وصيفاً للمجموعة الثانية بـ 4 نقاط.

اقرأ ايضاً.. مواعيد مواجهات دور الـ 8 من كوبا أمريكا 2024

ويشارك ليونيل ميسي أساسياً، في تشكيل منتخب الأرجنتين أمام الإكوادور اليوم في منافسات كوبا أمريكا. تشكيل الأرجنتين أمام الإكوادور في كوبا أمريكا 2024

حراسة المرمى:  إيمليانو مارتينيز.

خط الدفاع: ليساندرو مارتينيز، ناهويل مولينا، كريستيان روميرو، نيكولاس تاجليافيكو.

خط الوسط: دي باول، أليكسيس ماك أليستر، إنزو فيرنانديز، جونزاليز.

خط الهجوم: ليونيل ميسي، لاوتارو مارتينيز.

Chelsea defender Axel Disasi scored a disastrous own goal to bring Leicester City back into the game after taking a two-goal lead at half-time.

Article continues below

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• Disasi scored a freak own goal
• Chelsea had a two-goal lead at half-time
• Leicester City equalised in the 62nd minute

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Marc Cucurella opened the scoring for the Blues in the 13th minute before Cole Palmer doubled the team's lead at the stroke of half-time. Disasi then accidentally put the ball into his own net and brought the Foxes back into the clash.

  The Frenchman received the ball from Malo Gusto's throw-in and went towards his own goal as Patson Daka pressed him closely. The defender then attempted to pass the ball back Robert Sanchez in a hurry but accidentally curled it into his own net.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Disasi's own goal proved to be a disaster for his side, as the Championship high-fliers soon scored the equalising goal courtesy of Stephen Mavididi's strike in the 62nd minute.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Mauricio Pochettino's side will be next seen in action after the international break when they take on Burnley on March 30 in the Premier League.

The "striker curse" has engulfed many Chelsea players over recent years. The likes of Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner were all brought in for big money but failed to excel in the blue shirt.

In truth, the Blues still haven't replaced the potent physical presence of Diego Costa, who departed Stamford Bridge after enjoying a largely successful period in West London, winning two Premier League titles and netting an impressive 59 goals in 120 appearances in all competitions.

Mauricio Pochettino desperately needs a dominant focal point up top and with the January transfer window fast approaching, the Argentine could be presented with more funds to purchase one of Europe's most promising forwards.

Were Chelsea interested in signing Dusan Vlahovic?

Across the summer, Chelsea were heavily linked with a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic to bolster their attacking firepower.

It was rumoured that the Blues considered offering Romelu Lukaku as part of a swap deal for the Serbian hitman in August and while the Belgian striker agreed on personal terms with the Italian giants, they were unable to strike a deal as the English club wanted Juve to drastically lower their asking price, according to Sky Sport Italia.

The report detailed that the Old Lady were demanding a £34m fee for Vlahovic plus Lukaku, however, the Premier League side were unwilling to go beyond a fee of £21.5m with add-ons included.

While a deal didn't materialise in the summer, there are reasons to be optimistic about a transfer being concluded in the future after Juve teammate Samuel Iling-Junior previously drew comparisons for the similarities that Vlahovic shares with Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba.

He said: "Didier had that energy. Obviously he was a finisher. But when you go on the pitch I think energy is the most important thing in a top player.

"Dusan has got the lot. He speaks on the pitch. But it’s more his energy. When he’s going to press, he just naturally takes you with him.”

Is Dusan Vlahovic similar to Didier Drogba?

Didier Drogba arrived at the club at the age of 26 and quickly established himself as a dominant goal-scoring focal point in Jose Mourinho's title-winning machine.

The Ivorian had the ox-like strength, exceptional hold-up play, incredible movement and incisive finishing in his repertoire that saw him net an outstanding 164 goals in 381 appearances for Chelsea.

And in the early stages of Vlahovic's career, it appears that the 23-year-old possesses the unerring attributes that can see him follow a similar path to stardom taken by the former and that is a tantalising prospect for supporters to envisage.

Standing at 6 foot 3, Vlahovic is a traditional frontman, notoriously clinical in front of goal, can hold off defenders and make the piercing movement in behind that the opposition struggles to live with.

Described by teammate Filip Kostic as the "best striker in Europe", the 23-cap Serbian international has netted a commendable 65 goals in 147 appearances in Serie A.

While he would undeniably bring a consistent goal-scoring touch to Stamford Bridge, he's been labelled by former Juventus player Alessio Tacchinardi as "extraordinary" and could be the first step to improving their focal point.

Although it would be a monumental challenge to replicate the legendary legacy that Drogba crafted as a blue-blooded god, the Serbian machine, who is valued at £69m (€80m) as per CIES Football Observatory, has all the tools in his armoury to fix Chelsea's fortunes in front of goal.

As such, with Nicolas Jackson – who has just two league goals to his name this season – failing to fire, a renewed approach for Vlahovic could be needed in January.

In the hours and days following James Sutherland’s resignation announcement in early June, a host of names were thrown around as possible successors to the chief executive’s position at Cricket Australia. One name didn’t figure much, a name that should not be discounted.Among the cricket fraternity, most of the names that came up were familiar. CA chief operating officer Kevin Roberts. Former New South Wales chairman and Westfield executive John Warn. WACA chief executive Christina Matthews. ICC operations chief Geoff Allardice. Former national captain and CA game development executive Belinda Clark. Even CEOs from the National Rugby League and the Football Federation Australia (Todd Greenberg and David Gallop) were briefly mooted before withdrawing. Undoubtedly, the corporate recruits at Egon Zehnder had a long list of possibles to sort through.The level of secrecy around the appointment process is indicative of its significance, but that name that figure cannot be ruled out from the list. He has been both chief executive and chairman of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, CEO of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, CEO of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), and CEO of the wildly successful 2015 ICC World Cup. Since April 2016 he has also served as a CA Board director. He was even born a mere 16 days apart from Sutherland himself in 1965.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

John Harnden, a civil engineer by trade, found himself as one of many beneficiaries from the Formula One Grand Prix’s celebrated decade as an end-of-season party in Adelaide. Starting as a member of the project management team in 1989, he moved throughthe ranks and found himself moving with the event to Melbourne in 1993.Key to his contribution were oversight of the design of both tracks, as well as the set-up and dismantling of F1 precincts built temporarily, first around the streets of Adelaide and then Melbourne’s Albert Park. After Martin Brundle’s out-of-control Jordan hurtled into the wall shortly after the start of the 1996 race, there was no one happier than Harnden to see the Englishman dust himself off and resume the race in the team’s spare car. Two years after the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola, Melbourne had avoided a similar tragedy in its very first race.By 1998, Harnden had been promoted to chief executive of the Melbourne Grand Prix Corporation, a role he filled until 2002 when he was appointed to helm the city’s hosting of the Commonwealth Games, an undertaking that would overtake the 1956 Olympics as the largest sporting event ever held in the Victorian capital. There was some disquiet at ticket giveaways being required to ensure the MCG was brimful for the opening ceremony, but the Games were ultimately considered successful.Cricket was to nab Harnden at a critical time when he replaced Mike Deare as the CEO of SACA. Amid labyrinthine and sensitive negotiations for an AUD 535 million upgrade of the Adelaide Oval from a picturesque cricket ground to a globally-envied multi-purpose stadium, Harnden was a key link between previously warring parties over the redevelopment.Glimpsed pacing nervously and looking at his phone as SACA’s members voted on whether to approve the redevelopment in May 2011, Harnden and the association’s then president – former government minister Ian McLachlan – were perhaps the two most relieved men in Australian sport when an overwhelming “yes” vote not only opened the way to a rebuild but also wiped out AUD 85 million in SACA debt. “It was just hard to believe,” Harnden said at the time. “There has been so much talk about it and quite frankly it was quite unbelievable.”That bridge crossed, a still larger project loomed – a World Cup jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 1992. Harnden was unveiled as the organising committee’s CEO in November 2011, beginning the four-year road to an event that would ultimately be watched by more than a million spectators at the grounds and an estimated 1.5 billion on television. If the final between the two host nations was ill-tempered and one-sided, the MCG attendance of 93,014 made for a spectacular backdrop and outstripped the 87,182 who had seen Pakistan defeat England 23 years before.Within a few months of the tournament’s conclusion, Harnden was back at the Melbourne Grand Prix, this time as chairman. The Victorian state government, after a moment’s hesitation, chose Harnden on the strength of his skills, rather than choosing a candidate more politically motivated. Intriguingly, given the current vacancy at CA, it was for a three-year term expiring in August 2018. One link to cricket was re-established in April 2016, when he filled the South Australian spot on the CA Board left by the death of John Bannon (a former Australia premier) in December the previous year. At the time, CA chairman David Peever gave a glowing assessment of his “outstanding business credentials and experience,” and his “genuine passion to grow the game”. Harnden, he said, was an “elite sporting administrator”.A question surrounds the suitability of choosing a Board director for the chief executive’s role, given that CA is currently in the midst of dual cultural reviews. A similar query would be made of Roberts, widely considered the frontrunner from the moment he left the Board to become Sutherland’s second-in-command in September 2015. There is also the matter of last year’s MoU standoff with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, a saga that left CA and the players at a distance when they needed, if anything, to be closer. Roberts was ultimately sidelined from the brokering of a compromise, hardly an endorsement of his “stakeholder management” credentials.Those who have worked with Harnden refer to his diplomacy, his engineer’s attention to detail and a relative lack of ego. They also point to the diversity of his experience, and runs on the board helming major events when Australia is due to host dual ICC tournaments – the women’s and men’s World T20s – in 2020. It is also thought that, given a free hand, Harnden would be capable of the sort of cultural change desired within the four walls of CA’s Jolimont headquarters, while managing the complex web of international relationships that underpin Australian cricket’s comfortable position in the global game.Also significant is the fact that in the weeks preceding Sutherland’s announcement, the Board approved Peever’s continuation as CA chairman for three more years. It’s a role that, at one point, might have been suitable for Harnden. But the way events have unfolded, the chief executive’s berth may now be the best one for an administrator who, to many, has flown quite adroitly under the radar.

وجه نادي بيراميدز طلبًا لمسؤولي منتخب مصر الأولمبي، بعودة إبراهيم عادل لاعب الفريق المنضم لمعسكر الفراعنة، وذلك من أجل المشاركة في مواجهة الأهلي المرتقبة.

وقال هاني سعيد المدير الرياضي لنادي بيراميدز في تصريحات رسمية، إن مؤسسته تدعم وبكل قوة المنتخبات الوطنية وتتعاون مع اتحاد الكرة بكل إخلاص في ذلك، مع الرغبة الأكيدة والمستمرة لدى بيراميدز لتشريف الكرة المصرية في كل المحافل.

اتحاد الكرة: راسلنا 5 دول لاستقطاب حكام مباراة الأهلي وبيراميدز

وأضاف المدير الرياضي أن نادي بيراميدز مؤكدًا على التزامه تجاه منتخب مصر الأولمبي، ولبى طلب اتحاد الكرة والمدير الفني للمنتخب الأولمبي، بتواجد لاعبا الفريق إبراهيم عادل ومحمود صابر، في معسكر المنتخب الذي انطلق يوم الجمعة 5 يوليو 2024، على الرغم من أن معسكر المنتخب ومشاركته في أولمبياد باريس تقام خارج فترة الأجندة الدولية للفيفا.

وشدد هاني سعيد، على أنه وفي ظل حاجة الفريق الماسة لكل لاعبيه خلال منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز والتي ينافس فيها بيراميدز على اللقب متصدرا جدول الترتيب حتى تاريخه، فإن نادي بيراميدز، طلب السماح للاعب إبراهيم عادل بالعودة للنادي بداية من يوم الأربعاء، للانتظام في تدريبات الفريق للمشاركة في مباراة النادي بالدوري المحدد لها يوم الجمعة المقبل.

وأوضح هاني سعيد أن نادي بيراميدز سيضمن عودة إبراهيم عادل بعد اللقاء مباشرة للانتظام في معسكر المنتخب بما يتضمنه ذلك من طيران وانتقالات يتحملها النادي.

الجدير بالذكر، أن بيراميدز سيواجه الأهلي في خضم مؤجلات الجولة الرابعة عشر من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز، مساء الجمعة المقبل على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

وتشهد صدارة الدوري المصري منافسة شديدة بين ناديي الأهلي وبيراميدز، إذ يحتل الفريق السماوي الصدارة برصيد 68 نقطة حصدهم من 27 مباراة، ويلاحقه المارد الأحمر صاحب الـ57 نقطة من 23 مباراة.

Sunderland could be set to lose another one of their first-team stars alongside Jack Clarke in January, according to an update from a reliable journalist.

Which players left Sunderland in 2023?

At the Stadium of Light, Ross Stewart, Leon Dajaku, Bailey Wright, Carl Winchester, Lynden Gooch, Isaac Lihadji, Danny Batth, Elliot Embleton, Alex Bass and Joe Anderson all left the Championship club on either a temporary or permanent basis, and there could be another star heading for the exit door at the start of next year.

Premier League side Brentford are reportedly preparing a £15m offer for Jack Clarke to try and tempt Tony Mowbray’s team into sanctioning his sale, and on top of the forward being targeted, a second player is also on the radar of a different club in the top-flight.

Black Cats centre-back Daniel Ballard first joined Sunderland last summer from Arsenal and it's fair to say that he has majorly impressed during his 33 appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Ballard profile), and his form saw him attracting interest over the summer, despite him not completing a departure before the deadline.

The Northern Ireland international was the subject of attention from West Ham United in June, and even though they decided against ramping up their pursuit, the 24-year-old is once again wanted, except this time, at Turf Moor.

Daniel Ballard transfer update…

According to The Sun's Alan Nixon, sharing a Daniel Ballard transfer update on his personal Patreon (via Football League World), Sunderland now face losing the defender as well as Clarke, with Premier League side Burnley having “watched” him in recent weeks.

The Clarets are seriously considering a swoop at the start of next year, but Vincent Kompany could find it difficult to prise his target away from the northeast outfit, who view their asset as an “integral” member of the squad when it comes to once again making a push for promotion.

How much does Daniel Ballard earn at Sunderland?

At Sunderland, Ballard currently earns £15k-per-week which he deserves for his time at the club so far, and considering the physical presence he provides at the heart of the backline, Mowbray needs to do everything he can to keep hold of his prized asset.

The Stevenage-born talent is currently averaging 4.5 clearances and 2.5 aerial wins per game in the second tier, whilst recording a 90.3% pass success rate (WhoScored – Ballard statistics), displaying not only his ability to get stuck in, but also his calmness and composure on the ball.

He is additionally capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having posted three final third involvements (two goals and one assist) since putting pen to paper, which makes him a wonderful option for the boss to have at his disposal.

Finally, Ballard, who has been labelled a “stunning” centre-back by journalist Josh Bunting, has the versatility to operate slightly higher up in defensive midfield alongside his usual role, with this attractive attribute being another reason as to why it would be a huge blow to lose him in January.

The Kerala pacer drove through flood waters to get to the Duleep Trophy, even as the worst rains in nearly a century hit his state

Deivarayan Muthu26-Aug-2018Kerala quick Basil Thampi enjoyed a two-week stint at the National Cricket Academy in Brisbane in July, as part of an exchange programme between Cricket Australia and the MRF Pace Foundation based in Chennai. He and Tamil Nadu seamer K Vignesh had the opportunity to work with Ryan Harris, Greg Chappell, and a battery of Under-19 Australian fast bowlers.Upon his return to India, he planned to visit the MRF Pace Foundation in the second week of August and tune up further for the Duleep Trophy, the curtain-raiser to a bumper domestic season. He was keen to get his season started, but it had begun to rain heavily. He cancelled his trip to Chennai, thinking he would go straight to Dindigal in Tamil Nadu for the Duleep Trophy. But the rain continued, triggering the worst floods in Kerala in nearly a century.Having been asked to report to Dindigul on August 21, to join the India Blue squad two days before the start of their four-day match against India Red, Thampi was supposed to fly out of Kochi but then the airport shut because of flooding. His fall-back option was a train to Madurai on 20th, but that was cancelled too at the last moment. Despite the crisis in Kerala escalating, Thampi had mailed the BCCI, saying that he would somehow make it to the Duleep Trophy.”I explained to the BCCI my situation, but I was desperate not to miss the start of the domestic season,” Thampi told ESPNcricinfo. “How can I miss the start of the season?”AFPHe and his brother decided to wade through the flood waters and make a dash for Madurai, which is about 70 km away from Dindigul, by car. Since his place at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam was on a higher plain, his family and their property – including the car – was safe.As Thampi and his brother travelled towards the Tamil Nadu border via Kumily, a “frightening” landslide sent them through detours but they made it. Thampi’s brother dropped him in Dindigul on the 22nd night, stayed the night with him, and returned to Perumbavoor the next day, after the situation had improved back home.”The landslide was a frightening experience and we could not cross the Kumily check post,” Thampi said. “But I was determined to reach Dindigul and once we reached the Tamil Nadu border, it was easier to go to the team hotel [in Madurai]. Since I arrived late in Madurai, I could not play this game.” His next chance to play would be on August 29, at the same venue, when India Blue take on India Green.Thampi remains conscious of the trauma in his state caused by the floods. Before heading to the Duleep Trophy, Thampi and his friends had provided relief supplies to those affected in his town. His friends Milan and Basil and several others are still dispatching clothing and food.”The support from people everywhere has been phenomenal and things are getting better now,” Thampi said. ” Some areas have been splashed with mud and dirt, so in addition to basic needs, my friends are reaching out and providing cleaning agents like bleaching power. My support is always with them. This flooding has been tough, but Kerala will definitely bounce back.”

Daniel Farke is finally starting to find his feet at Leeds United, having initially got off to a difficult start. Now, as the international break comes to an end, the new boss will hope to see his side's recent momentum continue in the Championship as they square off against his former club, Norwich City. It would be some statement from the Whites if they were to beat the Canaries this weekend – three points would lay down a serious show of intent.

As the season goes on, and games come thick and fast, we may start to see Farke experiment to keep his squad fresh, and that could include trying one particular young player in a new role, handing him more game-time.

Leeds United team news

The Yorkshire club have been boosted by the fact that the international break didn't leave them with too much to worry about on the injury front, giving them every chance to kick on and cement themselves as promotion hopefuls in the Championship this season. Injuries could yet result in the emergence of a new star, however, or perhaps even a role change. And the latest Charlie Cresswell news suggests that could be the case for the central defender. Or, at least, that's what Graham Smyth believes.

Speaking on Inside Elland Road, Smyth said: “It will be a really interesting time in January. You don’t know if someone might pick up an injury. It almost feels to me like two need to pick up injuries for Cresswell to get a start right now because I think Farke plays Cooper, Struijk and Rodon before he plays Cresswell, that’s how it feels at the minute.

“But then who saw Archie Gray playing right-back? So Farke has maybe got a surprise up his sleeve, he’s maybe got a role for Cresswell or a game for Cresswell. But if the situation remains as it is, then he’s got a decision in January.”

How many games has Charlie Cresswell played this season?

Struggling for minutes, Cresswell has featured just six times for Leeds this season, starting just three times. At 21-years-old, the defender will be aware that his time will come, but for the sake of his development, Cresswell may need to adjust under Farke in order to receive a place in his starting side. After a successful loan spell at Millwall last season, the youngster's struggle at Leeds has come as a surprise, but last season shows that he is more than capable of taking his chance when it comes.

Cresswell earned plenty of praise at The Den, including from former Millwall boss Gary Rowett, who told South London Press: “Knowing his dad and the character he had, you can see that in the lad as well. He’s been brought up really well with a real hunger for work-rate. He’s an aggressive boy who wants to fight, I think that’s why Millwall was something they were very, very keen on even though they had some very good other options.

“A loan player wants to know they’ll get a fair chance and what you’re offering is actually what it says on the tin – not just to try and get the player into our club. He’s not going to be our player at the end of it, he’s going to be Leeds’ player, so we’ve got to do the best job we can along the way.”