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Rahil Shah, born in the state of Gujarat, spun out a team from Gujarat – Baroda – to lead Tamil Nadu to victory in their Ranji Trophy opener and he hopes he isn’t done yet

Deivarayan Muthu06-Oct-2015In the 2015 World Cup, Grant Elliott played a blinder to help his adopted country New Zealand beat the country of his birth South Africa. Loosely speaking, left-arm spinner Rahil Shah produced the Ranji Trophy version of it on Saturday. The man born in Surat in Gujarat reeled off nine wickets for Tamil Nadu and spun out a team from Gujarat – Baroda – at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.”I have lived my entire life in Chennai,” Rahil, 29, told ESPNcricinfo. “My mother tongue is Gujarati, but I can say I am a Chennai boy. I like to watch most Rajinikant movies.”His grandfather first moved to Pondicherry and then to Chennai for business. “My mom’s side is from Surat,” Rahil said. “Generally, we have a custom of going to the mother’s place for the delivery [of the baby]. We came back in about 15 days.”Rahil also said he was “struck” by cricket from his school days before pursuing the game more seriously during college. “It has always been a craze in India and during my fifth or sixth standard, I just wanted to play cricket. I love every sport, but cricket just struck me and I played for the fun of it.”I took the game more seriously by ninth or tenth standard when our school – Bhavans Rajaji Vidyashram – got coaches from Southern Railways and then set up nets with concrete and matting wickets. I started entering school tournaments and TNCA tournaments.”Rahil began as a right-handed opening batsman and medium-pacer. He had even tried his hand at wicketkeeping before turning to left-arm spin. But the big break was proving elusive. A fractured finger became the final straw and Rahil’s focus shifted to academics.”In 2007, I went to UK and studied Masters in Finance,” he said. “Maybe I needed some time away, I did not know whether to come back to cricket or join work.”The answer came via a friend who said Parry, a team from the TNCA League, were looking for left-arm spinners. “‘Just give it a go,’ [he told me] and I got through the trial and in the first season for Parry I got 51 wickets,” Rahil saidRahil has been in good form this season. He had taken 34 wickets for Vijay CC in league cricket in preparation for the Ranji Trophy and the results were on show in Chennai. His 5 for 43 was instrumental in Tamil Nadu’s narrow seven-run win. Offspinner Malolan Rangarajan provided excellent support from the other end, something Rahil has been used to.”Me and Malo [Malolan] have been bowling lots of overs for Vijay CC,” Rahil said. “When I attack, Malo backs me. When he attacks, I back him. We usually play 11 matches in club cricket and we have a good understanding.”Rahil’s first-class record is impressive: 54 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls and four four wicket-hauls at 18.48. However, he has played 11 matches since his debut in 2011, and all of them have been at home.Is he a dart-it-in, rank-turner specialist? “No, it depends on the combination. Whenever I get a chance, I am ready to play away games and pick wickets even on good batting wickets,” Rahil said.”Earlier I used to bowl at 90ks. Now, I have reduced it to 85ks and I focus on using more revs on the ball. And I enjoy watching Daniel Vettori. He uses a lot of revs on the ball and varies his speeds well.”Rahil, whose control and calm ensured Tamil Nadu prevailed in a tight finish, hoped the victory against Baroda would be a scene-setter for the rest of the season.

Celtic have a big test ahead of them this afternoon as they take on their Glasgow rivals, Rangers, in the first Old Firm Derby of the SPFL season.

The Hoops are heading into this match off the back of a blistering 9-0 league win over Dundee United at the weekend, followed by their 4-1 win over Ross County in the Scottish League Cup.

Looking ahead to today’s game at Celtic Park, it seems as though Ange Postecoglou’s side have been handed an injury boost that could impact their chance of securing a victory over their close rivals.

What’s the news?

Speaking in his latest press conference, Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst revealed that Tom Lawrence will not feature in today’s clash and will be out for a few weeks after picking up a knee injury.

Rangers signed the Welshman during the recent summer transfer window on a free deal from Derby County.

During his time with the Rams, Lawrence ended up scoring 37 goals and delivering 25 assists in 185 appearances across all competitions.

A big relief for Postecoglou

Since moving to Ibrox, the 28-year-old has made nine appearances for the club across the SPFL and Champions League qualifying games.

In those nine appearances, the former Derby star has found the net three times and delivered two assists, showing how much of an attacking and creative danger he is.

To further highlight his attacking talent, only Matt O’Riley (3.6) has a higher average for shots per game in the league this season than Lawrence (3.4) in the whole division.

With all of that in mind, it’s clear that Rangers will have to make do without one of their main attacking threats this afternoon, which will surely be a relief to Postecoglou and diminish the away side’s chances of securing a victory.

However, with the Ibrox club only conceding two more goals than Celtic in the league this season and having made more successful tackles (45 vs 38) and interceptions (30 vs 29) than Postecoglou’s side, the Hoops will still need to be on their best attacking form if they want to make sure they don’t drop any points and continue their winning run of form.

Ruben Amorim is reportedly not willing to hand Marcus Rashford a lifeline at Old Trafford, with Manchester United setting a huge asking price.

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• Rashford has no future at United
• Red Devils looking to cash in on the forward
• Funds will be used to sign a fresh face in the summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford’s departure from United in January came after a difficult period, with the English forward falling out of favour under Amorim due to attitude and commitment concerns. Since switching to Villa Park, Rashford has rediscovered his form and is thriving under Unai Emery’s guidance. The change of environment has allowed him to enjoy his football once again, and he has played a pivotal role in Villa’s push for Champions League qualification with four assists in nine matches.

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  However, according to the even with his impressive performances in the Midlands, it is becoming increasingly clear that his future does not lie at Old Trafford. Amorim has prioritised signing a new striker in the summer, reinforcing the belief that Rashford will be moved on permanently once the season concludes.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With Amorim planning for the future, United view Rashford’s loan spell as an opportunity to increase his market value. They are reportedly seeking a permanent deal worth around £60 million ($76m), with Villa emerging as a leading candidate to secure his services. Rashford himself is believed to be keen on extending his stay in the West Midlands, viewing Villa Park as the ideal place to rejuvenate his career under Emery.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

  Rashford’s strong club form has also boosted his international prospects, earning him a recall to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel. He was handed a starting role in England’s World Cup qualifier against Albania, but despite his best efforts, he drew a blank at Wembley. With another qualifier against Latvia on Monday, the forward will be determined to make an impact and strengthen his claim for a regular spot in the national team in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup.

INEOS have sent Manchester United scouts to watch a hugely in-demand young player, according to a recent report. The Red Devils enjoyed their first Premier League game at Old Trafford under new head coach Ruben Amorim on Sunday, as they cruised to a 4-0 win over Everton. It has been a good week for United, as Amorim continues to get to grips with his new squad.

9/10 Man Utd star just proved he's a potential £100m player in waiting

Manchester United’s unbeaten run continued under the reign of Ruben Amorim.

By
Matt Dawson

Dec 1, 2024

Man Utd transfer news

Amorim will get to know his players very well over the coming weeks, as United play every three to four days in various competitions. However, as any new manager or head coach does, he may already know which players are not going to be part of his team going forward and have replacements in mind.

Midfielder Christian Eriksen looks set to leave Old Trafford at the end of this season. The Denmark international is out of contract at the end of this campaign, and as things stand, he will not be offered a new deal and therefore will be allowed to leave for nothing, as the Man United boss targets two new midfield signings.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Amorim has requested that United look to sign Patrick Dorgu from Leece in the January transfer window. It has been stated that signing a left-back is a priority for the Red Devils, and Dorgu could be that addition in the New Year.

INEOS send Man Utd scouts to watch Valentin Atangana

According to Alan Nixon, relayed by Inside Futbol, Manchester United had scouts present to watch Reims midfielder Valentin Atangana in action last week. As previously mentioned, signing a midfielder or two is on United’s radar, as Eriksen looks set to leave soon and there is still talk of an exit for Casemiro in the summer.

Atangana is 19 years old and has come through the ranks at Reims, playing 35 times for the first team over two and a half seasons. The French under-21 international has started all 13 league games he has played in Ligue 1 in this campaign but has yet to find the back of the net or register an assist.

The midfielder is not being watched just by United, as there are also many other Premier League teams keeping an eye on his situation. Teams such as Brentford, Liverpool, Everton, and Aston Villa are also tracking the player and have had scouts tracking him as well.

Interestingly, When looking at Fbref’s comparison tool, which evaluates players based on key statistical metrics, Atangana is very similar to United’s own Kobbie Mainoo.

This report states that no fewer than 26 teams have been watching Atangana, with Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund looking like serious competition for the English clubs in the mix.

Antony stole the show yet again for Real Betis as he scored and set up another goal as they destroyed Vitoria in the Conference League.

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• Real Betis beat Vitoria 4-0
• Antony had two goal contributions
• In superb form since Man Utd exit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Heading into the second leg with a narrow lead, Manuel Pellegrini’s side wasted no time asserting their dominance with Cedric Bakambu putting the visitors in control with a brace inside the opening 20 minutes, leaving Vitoria struggling to respond. Shortly after the break, Antony extended Betis’ advantage in emphatic fashion. Latching onto an inch-perfect through ball from Isco, the Manchester United loanee drove into the penalty area before smashing a powerful shot past Bruno Varela at the near post.

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  With the tie all but decided, Antony wasn’t finished. In the closing stages, he outpaced Mikel Villanueva down the wing before laying the ball off to Isco, who slotted home to complete the rout. The dominant win secured Betis’ place in the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Since swapping Manchester for Seville, Antony has hit the ground running. The Brazilian winger has now recorded four goals and three assists in just 10 appearances for Betis, equaling his tally for United from the start of last season.

Tottenham Hotspur might just be the most inconsistent team in the Premier League.

In the last month or so, Ange Postecoglou’s side have handed Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town their first wins of the season while then demolishing Aston Villa 4-1 and, most impressively, embarrassing Manchester City 4-0 at the Etihad.

Fans will be hoping that the unexpected result against Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut will see the North Londoners embark on a run of good form, and based on the performances of their players in that game, we wouldn’t be surprised if that happens.

From top to bottom, Postecoglou’s starting lineup reminded the rest of the league just how good they are, and there’s one player in the Australian’s squad who’s beginning to look like Tottenham’s answer to Martin Odegaard.

Spurs' creative midfield talent

Before we get onto the player in question, let’s examine a few of the other creative midfielders exceeding expectations for Spurs this season, starting with someone who loves playing at the Etihad, Dejan Kulusevski.

Now, the Swedish maestro did start off the right of Dominic Solanke for the game on Sunday but has mainly played in midfield this season, and to say he’s adapted to life in the middle of the park well would be a colossal understatement.

Of his eight goal involvements this season, six of them have come in central or attacking midfield roles, and according to FBref, which compares players in Europe’s top five leagues, the former Juventus ace sits in the top 1% of midfielders for expected assists, touches in the opposition’s penalty area and the top 4% for shot-creating actions, per 90.

Another of the club’s midfield gems who hasn’t been quite as impressive as Kulusevski but has still shown glimpses of promise is fellow Swede Lucas Bergvall.

The 18-year-old has only played 325 minutes of first-team action so far, but in that, the “uber-complete” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has provided two assists and shown more than enough for fans to get excited about just how good he’ll be a few years down the line.

That said, neither he nor his older compatriot are looking like the club’s answer to Odegaard. That accolade goes to another creative midfielder.

Spurs' own Odegaard

So, it’s probably fairly obvious at this point that the Spurs ace who is Ange’s own Odegaard is, of course, James Maddison, whom FOTmob now value at €75m, which is £63m.

The Englishman was once heavily compared to the Norwegian in 2021 when it looked as if Arsenal were trying to decide which one to sign, and while things haven’t been all plain sailing for the former Foxes star in North London, he’s starting to show that he can be just as good.

For example, like the former Real Madrid wonderkid, he’s just as adept at scoring goals as he is creating them, as evidenced by his Lilywhites tally of nine goals and 13 assists in 46 appearances, compared to 11 goals and 14 assists in 55 appearances for the Norwegian in the same period.

Moreover, while the Drammen-born dynamo is the Gunners’ captain, Postecoglou made the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by analyst Statman Dave, one of the club’s co-vice-captains last summer, which is about the most he could do with Son Heung-min still in the side.

Furthermore, Maddison’s leadership qualities were on show in the match against City, as he maintained his composure, scored two goals and continued to lead by example as the game progressed.

Finally, when we look at their underlying creative numbers from the entirety of last season, as the Arsenal man has missed so much of this season, we see that, once again, the pair are incredibly similar.

For example, according to FBref, they rank very closely in several important metrics, including non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, key and live passes, shot and goal-creating actions and passing accuracy, all per 90.

Ultimately, while there are times Maddison fades out of games, his unreal innate talent is undeniable, and as he continues to improve this season, it will become more apparent that he is Postecoglou and Spurs’ answer to Odegaard.

Spurs star who got sold by Poch for big money has become an 'embarrassment'

The veteran international has not had a great season so far.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 26, 2024

Former Manchester United star Phil Bardsley, who once famously knocked out Wayne Rooney, has called out KSI for a Misfits Boxing match.

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• Sparked Rooney during kitchen sparring
• Bridge has withdrawn from bout with KSI
• Ex-Red Devils star is prepared to step in

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Back in 2015, Old Trafford academy graduate Bardsley starred in a video that quickly went viral. The clip in question showed him sparring with Rooney in the Manchester United striker’s kitchen – with the pair admitting to having “had a skinful” to drink.

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  While messing about, Bardsley caught Rooney flush on the chin and sent him slumping to the ground, leaving “blood all over”. Rooney, who is taking another break from coaching at present, has previously expressed a desire to climb inside the ring.

• WHAT PHIL BARDSLEY SAID

  Bardsley says that he would happily do likewise, especially if he was given the opportunity to lace up against one of the social media stars that form part of the Misfits fighting stable. Speaking to , who offer Premier League odds, Bardsley said: “I would step in there with anyone, including KSI.

  “I had an operation recently but it won’t take me long to get my fitness up when I’m back in the gym. I’d love to give it a go and I think I’d really enjoy the routine of it, it’s something I’d really look forward to.

  “I’d never turn down a fight on one of the Misfits cards, but it’s not in my nature to go out there promoting myself. Let’s see what happens.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  KSI, who is involved with the newly-launched Baller League UK, was being lined up for a fight with ex-Manchester City and England defender Wayne Bridge. Said contest was cancelled following an in-ring quip from KSI that saw him reference the alleged affair that Bridge’s ex-girlfriend had with former Chelsea team-mate John Terry.

A former Tottenham employee says that one player could be out until February next year after hearing news this week, which would be more bad news for manager Ange Postecoglou, as he deals with a lengthy ban for Rodrigo Bentancur.

Rodrigo Bentancur hit by seven-game ban at Spurs

Earlier this week, the FA confirmed Bentancur’s seven-game domestic ban, after racial comments made during an interview on Uruguayan TV in June.

Tottenham determined to bring £player back to the club in January for £32m

Ange Postecoglou is pushing Tottenham to re-sign a former player, after impressing so far this season.

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By
Brett Worthington

Nov 17, 2024

The £75,000-per-week midfielder, who scored his first goal of the season in Spurs’ dismal 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town nearly two weeks ago, stated “they all look the same” when talking about Son Heung-min, as he was asked to provide a shirt belonging to a Tottenham player (via The Guardian).

“Sonny’s?,” Bentancur said.

“It could be Sonny’s cousin too, as they all look the same.”

This reckless comment means that Bentancur is set to miss their top-flight games against Manchester City, Fulham, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool, not to mention their all-important Carabao Cup quarter-final against Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.

The international will resume his duties in a Lilywhites shirt against high-flying Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, but it is quite the lay-off for a mainstay player who’s made 15 appearances under Postecoglou across all competitions.

“An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a seven-match suspension and £100,000 fine on Rodrigo Bentancur for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a media interview,” wrote the FA in a statement.

“It was alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute. It was further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.

“Rodrigo Bentancur denied this charge, but the independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanctions following a hearing. Its written reasons for these decisions can be seen below.”

Wilson Odobert could be out until end of February

As Bentancur is slapped with a hiatus and hefty fine, Tottenham also recently announced that winger Wilson Odobert has undergone surgery on his right hamstring.

The “exciting” winger, signed from Burnley in the summer, has endured a nightmare start to his north London career plagued by injury problems.

This latest blow for the Frenchman is set to take another chunk out of his season, and former Spurs scout Bryan King has told Tottenham News that Odobert could be out until late February as a result of his procedure.

“I can’t see him returning before the end of February,” King said.

“That is quite a serious operation that he has had. For someone to have it at this age, it is very hard on him, he was progressing quite well.

“Now he has had to undergo surgery which will leave him out for quite some time.”

West Ham United are desperate to secure a return to European football this season after missing out on a place under David Moyes in 2023/24 after finishing ninth in the Premier League.

It led to the Scotsman’s departure from the London Stadium, ending his second stint in charge of the club, allowing for Julen Lopetegui to take the reins of the Hammers.

The board backed the new boss spending around £120m on new talent during the summer, giving him all of the tools to be a success during his debut campaign in charge.

However, it has yet to have a huge impact on results, restricting them to 14th place in the Premier League going into the third international break.

The last starting lineup against Everton included four of the summer arrivals in East London, but they were unable to provide the difference in a meeting that ended 0-0.

They might wish they had kept hold of a couple of attacking talents who departed the Hammers during the 2023/24 season.

West Ham’s departures in 2023/24

Academy graduate Declan Rice enjoyed seven years in the club’s first team before departing to join London rivals Arsenal in a £105m deal – a record for an English player.

He wasn’t the only midfielder to depart the Hammers during that summer window, with attacking-minded midfielder Nikola Vlasic leaving after just 12 months at the club – joining Serie A outfit Torino for a fee in the region of £10m.

It was another disappointing transfer from hierarchy, losing around £20m in the space of a year on a player who ultimately wasn’t at the level required for England’s top flight.

January 2024 was another window of departures for the Hammers with £30m signing Said Benrahma ending his three-and-a-half years at the club after joining from Brentford in the summer of 2020.

The Algerian scored 24 times in his 155 appearances during his time in the capital, but it wasn’t enough to secure his future in London – swapping England for France and joining Lyon.

However, the departure of one other attacking-minded player may have been too premature given his form away from the London Stadium in the last few months.

The player who West Ham must regret offloading

Spanish talent Pablo Fornals spent four-and-a-half years as a West Ham player, playing a crucial role in their Europa Conference League triumph during the 2022/23 season under former boss Moyes.

The now 28-year-old scored the winning goal in the semi-final victory over Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, sending the Hammers to the final in Prague, ultimately allowing them to claim their maiden Conference League title.

Fornals featured over 200 times, scoring 23 times often featuring as a ten or even in a wide left position, cutting inside into his stronger right football – similarly to that of Benrahma who operated off that flank.

However, he was eventually sold in January 2024 to Spanish side Real Betis for just £6.8m – a decision that has proven to be a huge mistake given his recent form for the LaLiga outfit.

The Spaniard managed to score three times after his move towards the back end of 2023/24, but it’s his form from the current campaign that has seen him rival one of Europe’s best young talents.

Lamine Yamal has been catapulted into the limelight in recent months after his displays with Barcelona and the Spain national side, but the 17-year-old has struggled to get the better of Fornals in numerous key areas.

The “unbelievable” Fornals, as dubbed by journalist Karl Matchett, may have registered far fewer combined goals and assists, but he’s matched the youngster for goals per shot on target so far this campaign.

He’s also registered 27 passes into the opposition’s penalty area, just three fewer than Yamal, a statistic that remarkably ranks him sixth in Europe’s top five leagues, showcasing his attacking qualities – something which West Ham desperately lacks with their tally of just 13 league goals scored this season.

It’s great to see a former Hammer starring, especially after his long stint at the club, but many will be questioning why he was sold given his performances and figures from the last few months.

Lopetegui has struggled since his appointment, with his compatriot potentially helping him get out of trouble had Moyes not offloaded him at the start of the year.

West Ham could hire Premier League legend to brilliantly replace Lopetegui

West Ham must replace Lopetegui with this Premier League legend

By
Connor Holden

Nov 14, 2024

Adams and Reyna have rejoined the U.S. men's national team, with several MLS stars from January camp also featuring

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• Pochettino names final squad for Nations League
• Adams and Reyna looking for first appearances since Copa America
• January camp stars Luna, Agyemang, White named to team

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. Soccer announced the final 23-man squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League finals. The USMNT will take on Panama first in the semifinal round on March 20, with either Mexico or Canada awaiting in the finale three days later.

  Coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad includes 16 players who have been a part of at least one Nations League final, including the return of both Gio Reyna and Tyler Adams, who are back in the squad after extended absences.

  Adams joins the USMNT group for the first time since the Copa America, while Reyna returns for the first time since suffering a groin injury ahead of friendlies against Canada and New Zealand in September. Christian Pulisic returns for his fourth Nation's League Finals, while several MLS players who starred in the January camp – including Diego Luna and Patrick Agyemang – also made the roster.

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  SQUAD IN FULL

  GOALKEEPERS: Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace) 

  DEFENDERS: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic) 

  MIDFIELDERS: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon) 

  FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Timothy Weah (Juventus), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps) 

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  Reyna and Adams are in for their first camps under Pochettino, as are Cameron Carter-Vickers and Marlon Fossey. Among the notable absences are Brenden Aaronson, Alejandro Zendejas and Brandon Vazquez, who were all left out of the squad.

  Striker Josh Sargent, who is in incredible form for Norwich, leads the forward group, which will be without his two biggest rivals for that No. 9 spot: Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun, both of whom have battled injuries. He's joined by Agyemang and Brian White after both impressed during the annual January camp.

  In defense, Fossey gets the opportunity to come in after impressing in the fall. Pochettino has leaned on a familiar group of centerbacks with Carter-Vickers, who he previously worked with at Tottenham, the only newcomer in that group. Carter-Vickers is joined by his club teammate, Auston Trusty, after starting alongside one another consistently at Celtic.

  Yunus Musah is listed as a forward, which could indicate how Pochettino plans to use him. The midfield is lifted by the return of Adams, while Tanner Tessmann and Johnny Cardoso are options to play in a double pivot alongside the Bournemouth star. Weston McKennie has largely been used as a No. 10 recently with Juventus, although Luna, who stepped up in January camp, could also play that position – as could Reyna.

  Six MLS-based players return from the USMNT’s January Camp: Agyemang, Luna, Tim Ream, Patrick Schulte, Zack Steffen and White.  

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  WHAT POCHETTINO SAID

  “This is a massive opportunity to win a trophy and that is our clear objective,” USMNT boss Pochettino said. “We must continue to show our quality, our bravery and our commitment."