Exeter City in 'good shape' for new season
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Luton defender Odoffin out after minor surgery
Luton Town defender Hakeem Odoffin requires minor surgery and will be out of action for an unspecified period, the club has 27-year-old signed for the Hatters in early July and the club say an MRI scan in his medical flagged "an unexpected non-musculoskeletal issue".Manager Matt Bloomfield told the club website, external they were aware of the issue before signing Odoffin. "We were in a position to make the decision where either we support him through this, knowing that we've got a real good person, a real good character and a real good player – or we walk away from it," Bloomfield added."Hakeem is someone the recruitment department at the football club had kept a really close eye on before I was here, someone who I know extremely well from playing against him, so all things aligned and we believe it's still the right decision."Odoffin, who left Rotherham United in May, said he hopes to be back playing soon."Unfortunately, it does require surgery to correct the issue and ensure I can return to playing safely," he said."I'll be sidelined for a little while, but I'm fully focused on my recovery and will be working hard to get back to training with the lads as soon as possible."Relegated Luton begin their League One campaign at home to AFC Wimbledon on Friday, 1 August (20:00 BST).
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Kieron Bowie is primed to be Scotland's No.9 heir apparent
It was an agreeable start to what could be a pivotal campaign in the 22-year-old's young career. Because, if things go well, we may not just be looking at a future Hibernian poster boy – and potentially someone they could sell on for a decent chunk of money – but a potential long-term answer for Scotland at the No.9 role. With Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams coming into the latter stages of their career, and their availability and productivity for the national team having already dropped off over the last year or so, manager Steve Clarke has tried out a few younger options at the point of attack in recent international breaks. Tommy Conway and George Hirst from down south have each been given chances, while James Wilson at Hearts was made Scotland's youngest international of the modern era earlier this year. Then there's also Bowie, who was given his first cap as a substitute against Liechtenstein in June. With Bobby Wales, once of Kilmarnock and now at Swansea City, also emerging as an exciting young talent, we could soon be entering a bright future at what's long been a problem position for the national team. You may indeed be wondering why this writer has singled out Bowie as Scotland's heir apparent in attack. Wilson and Wales, for instance, contributed about the same to the William Hill Premiership last season and are both younger, which therefore means they are perceived to have greater potential. And you don't have to look far into Bowie's past for reasons as to why it may seem foolish to bank on him becoming a Scotland hero: 14 goals in 85 games for Northampton hardly gets the pulses racing, after all. But unless a Scottish striker goes to the very top and becomes the type of world-class attacking talent that can put a modest team on their back, it would likely come down to who suits the system the best. And unless things change dramatically for the better in what's already been an accomplished period for the international team across recent decades, Scotland's place in the food chain demands a certain type of player to lead the line. The No.9 for most of the Steve Clarke era has been Lyndon Dykes – who himself has both a modest pedigree and record in front of goal. There's no doubt the Aussie-turned-Jock has his detractors within the Tartan Army support. He's not the most technically proficient of players, while his decision-making can also be erratic. He has matches where everything he touches turns to dust. But he's also had many big moments in a Scotland shirt and turned in performances where he's enabled the rest of the attack to function better around him. You can argue causation and correlation, but Scotland's fortunes undeniably improved once Dykes switched allegiances from his homeland. He gave the team a focal point up front that Clarke had failed to find in Oli McBurnie, Oli Burke, Callum Paterson or the dying embers of Leigh Griffiths' prime years. Dykes contributes not only by scoring a higher rate for Scotland than he has at club level, but by putting in a power of work. He's a willing runner and fighter and his huge, athletic frame, which enables him to make life miserable for opposing defenders. It's the type of player in attack that Scotland have required for quite some time now. Even these days with Italian football darlings Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson among the ranks, our talent pool is still too shallow to try and go toe-to-toe with the best of world football. In order to continue dining at the high table we still need to play pragmatically. Bowie is the up-and-comer who most resembles Dykes' game. He's a huge presence in attack who doesn't need to be provoked to get into a 90-minute fight with his marker. He isn't quite as mobile as Dykes but he still gets around the final third. And, promisingly, early evidence would suggest a stronger eye for goal. Bowie netted six goals in 21 games for Hibs last term, but by doing so in only 871 minutes, he had a better goals-per-90 minutes than all but three Scottish Premiership strikers — they were Player of the Year Daizen Maeda, top goalscorer Cyriel Dessers and Celtic's human victory-cigar Adam Idah. In a campaign that, in many ways, never properly got going for the striker due to a hamstring injury which kept him out for months, there were many more promising numbers which stood out for Bowie. I compared his stats to 33 other Premiership centre-forwards from last term and he finished in the top three for percentage of shots on target and goal conversion, as well as touches inside the penalty area per 90 minutes. Demonstrating his willingness to battle, he also led all strikers in defensive actions, interceptions and fouls won (again, per 90). The advanced stats also show some clear indications for improvement if he is going to discover his potential. Though he won fouls at a higher rate than any other striker, it was offset by committing the most as well (3 conceded to 2.89 won per game). He also only won 18.18 per cent of his aerial duels (the fifth worst tally) and he ranked quite poorly for many of the passing accuracy metrics. The latter two will be key if he is to establish himself at a higher level. He needs to win more flick-ons for team-mates to run onto, while it's little use initially making the ball stick in attack if you're going to give it right back again. Returning to the positives, the game which stood out the most as an example of Bowie's ability to be a real force came in Hibs' 2-1 victory over Celtic at Easter Road in February. The youngster dominated both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty in a first-half performance where the hosts scored twice without reply. He would tire badly in the second period and be replaced on the hour. And this is where we may have to pump the breaks a little in terms of expectations based on what we saw last year. Bowie largely made his corn coming off the bench and wasn't as effective when he started matches. But the player admitted himself that the hamstring injury robbed him of 90-minute fitness that he wouldn't be able to fully regain until pre-season. If he can reproduce what he did in 871 minutes across three/four times as much playing action this term then what could we be looking at? A player of the year nomination? A contender for the Premiership's golden boot? A regular place in the Scotland squad? None of that is implausible and that should be very exciting for both Hibs fans and Scotland supporters.
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Luke Shaw ready to quit Man Utd with injury-hit star offered mega-money swansong in Saudi Arabia
LUKE SHAW faces a Manchester United exit and the injury-hit star could be gone by January. England left-back Shaw, 30, is aware of serious interest from Saudi clubs and is ready to listen to offers. 3 He still has two years left on his Old Trafford contract but fears his Red Devils career might be nearing an end. Shaw made just 12 appearances last season after missing the first three months with a prolonged calf problem and is facing limited opportunities. He did start May's 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham but in a back-three due to a shortage of centre-backs. Shaw is likely to be behind Patrick Dorgu in the left-back pecking order and Ruben Amorim also has high hopes for new boy Diego Leon who has signed for £3.3m from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno. The physically imposing 18 year old played the first half of last weekend's 0-0 friendly draw with Leeds in Sweden and the Amorim said: 'He did really well. 'He's learning things, he's powerful, he's going to be a very good player.' Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot has been a regular starter a left wing back in the United chief's favoured 3-4-2-1 system. Shaw is in the United squad that begin their pre-season tour of the USA with a clash against West Ham on Sunday - and also featured against Leeds - but knows he is liable to be making up the numbers once the Prem kicks off next month. 3 BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS His United career began in heartbreak with a double leg break due against PSV in only his eighth game back in September 2015. Shaw later revealed that surgeons considered amputation due to blood clots discovered in the after-math of the injury. Man Utd hunting Jackson as Chelsea's demands revealed | Transfers Exposed That cost him eleven months on the sidelines and began a nightmare run of problems that has seen him miss almost FIVE YEARS of his United and England career. Shaw is seen as a popular and influential figure within the dressing room and Amorim is in no hurry to dump him or his £150,000 a week wages. But the player himself is determined to make up for so much lost time and knows he faces a tough decision on his future over the coming months. Should he decide to leave it is unlikely United would be difficult to deal with in terms of a fee considering all those injuries and his lack of appearances - only 27 in the last two campaigns. Amorim, meanwhile, is not prepared to break the bank for a new No 9. Fans hoped Alexander Isak's decision to tell Newcastle he wants out of St James' Park might encourage United to bid. But with United's spending on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo topping £130m this summer, the club are not in a position to go large unless there are significant exits. SunSport revealed Chelsea's Senegal star Nicolas Jackson was eyeing Old Trafford as a potential destination, but the Blues want £80m for him. But United are in no position to push the boat out - opening the door for under-pressure Rasmus Hojlund to stake his claim during the three-match Premier League Summer Series tournament against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton. On Thursday night Aston Villa moved to dismiss reports United had proposed an audacious swap deal, offering rebel Alejandro Garnacho in return for England striker Ollie Watkins. 3
