Three-member panel that picked Ravi Shastri as head coach asked to respond by October 10

Nagraj Gollapudi28-Sep-2019

Anshuman Gaekwad, Kapil Dev and Shanta Rangaswamy after a CAC meeting•Annesha Ghosh/ESPNcricinfo

BCCI ethics officer, Justice (retd.) DK Jain, has served a notice to all three members on the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) led by Kapil Dev, asking them to explain the alleged conflict of interest charge pressed by Sanjeev Gupta, a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association.Justice Jain has asked all three CAC members to respond to the charge by October 10, failing which he would be forced to draw his own conclusions on the matter.In his complaint to Justice Jain, Gupta has alleged that all three CAC members have multiple points of conflict. Kapil is part of the steering committee of the newly formed, BCCI-funded Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA). He is also one of its directors. Kapil also works as an expert for Indian television channels. As for Anshuman Gaekwad, it is alleged that in addition to working as a pundit on TV, he is also part of the BCCI’s Member Affiliation Committee, which grants membership to state associations. Gaekwad, too, is part of the ICA’s steering group, as is the third member, Shanta Rangaswamy, who is also an ICA director.Gupta had sent his complaint to Justice Jain immediately after the Committee of Administrators (CoA) had appointed former Indian cricketers Kapil, Gaekwad and Rangaswamy to the CAC to shortlist and appoint a head coach for the Indian men’s team. The CAC has since re-appointed Ravi Shastri in that position till 2021 T20 World Cup.Gupta had pressed similar charges against the members of the previous CAC – Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman – for carrying out multiple roles in Indian cricket, when the rules dictate that one person can hold just one position. During the hearing of the case, Tendulkar submitted that he had decided not to be part of any BCCI committee, so Justice Jain let him off. But he did uphold the charges against Ganguly and Laxman.Even the appointment of the Kapil-led CAC had not been straightforward. It was assembled for the first time late last year to pick the Indian woman’s head coach, with former Tamil Nadu captain and India opener WV Raman eventually taking charge.However, Diana Edulji, former India woman’s team captain, who is part of the CoA, had expressed her dissatisfaction with the entire process and asked the BCCI ombudsman – also Justice Jain – to intervene. There has been no final verdict on that matter as yet.Once Gupta had filed conflict charges against Kapil, Gaekwad and Ramaswamy, Edulji told her fellow CoA members – Vinod Rai and Ravindra Thodge – that all three CAC members should first give a written undertaking before proceeding to pick the men’s head coach.

Reliable journalist Nizaar Kinsella of The Evening Standard has shared a key Chelsea manager update as the Blues make a decision on both Mauricio Pochettino's future and a potential return for fan favourite Jose Mourinho.

Pochettino takes blame for Chelsea form

The west Londoner lost yet more ground in the race for European qualification after their 2-2 draw away to Brentford last weekend.

Chelsea now eyeing move to sign new £26m gem for Poch this summer

He’s one for the future.

ByTom Cunningham Mar 3, 2024

Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring against Thomas Frank's side, but goals from Mads Roerslev and Yoane Wissa put Brentford in the ascendancy and prompted boos from sections of the Chelsea away end against Pochettino.

Newcastle United

March 11th

Burnley

March 30th

Man United

April 4th

Sheffield United

April 7th

A late goal from Axel Disasi fortunately salvaged something from their encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium, but it is clear as day that things are starting to turn toxic at Stamford Bridge, and specifically over who is in the dug out.

"I think the performances have been very good, I’m so happy with the performances," Pochettino said, when asked about supporters' frustration.

"Yes, and if they want to listen, perfect. If not, what can I do? They'll keep booing. I'm giving my best to this team.

"But we cannot blame the fans. My message is: Okay, they need to show their frustration – through who? I prefer to me rather than to the team. I prefer that, I am strong. I am sure that in time we will change the perception.

"I don’t want the fans trying to blame the players. Players need to feel backed by the fans and, to be honest, I prefer that I get the blame and let the players be free on the pitch. I don’t care. I am strong, I am 52 now. The players deserve credit and support from our fans. If someone needs to get the blame, that is no problem. That is why I am the coach."

The former Tottenham boss was a divisive appointment to begin with, given his links to one of Chelsea's most fierce rivals, but Chelsea's dwindling season has piled yet more pressure on the 52-year-old.

Pochettino update as Chelsea make Jose Mourinho decision

A big topic of discussion lately has been a possible Chelsea return for Mourinho. According to recent reports, the 'Special One' would "love" to have a third stint at Chelsea boss, but fans who are eager to see the Portuguese may be disappointed.

Indeed, The Standard and Kinsella write this week that Chelsea are not expected to try and reappoint Mourinho, and will likely stick with Pochettino until the end of the season at least.

Mourinho is a free agent after leaving Roma earlier this season, but that has done little to sway the Chelsea board into making a move for the serial-winning coach.

The 61-year-old has won a major honour at every single club he's taken charge of, bar Tottenham, so it's clear why some fans are enchanted by the prospect of a return – which as things stand looks unlikely to happen.

After a rocky start to life in England, Rasmus Hojlund has emerged as a key performer in the Premier League for Manchester United this season.

The 21-year-old marksman has plundered an incredible seven goals and two assists in his last six appearances in the top-flight, after a return of zero goals in his first 14 outings in the division.

United snapped the Denmark international up from Serie A side Atalanta for a reported fee of £72m last summer. That came after the forward racked up nine goals and two assists in 32 league games for the Italian outfit during the 2022/23 campaign.

The Red Devils could now repeat the blinder they appear to have played with Hojlund by returning to the Serie A to sign another number nine this summer.

Latest Manchester United transfer news

According to Tuttosport, the Premier League giants sent scouts to the Italian top-flight last weekend to watch an impressive young striker in action. The report claims that United sent an 'emissary' to watch Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee play against Atalanta away from home, a game in which he scored from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win.

Tuttosport add that fellow English side Arsenal sent their own scouts to watch the Dutch attacker play earlier this season, as both clubs could face competition from each other in a possible summer swoop for his services.

It also states that Bologna value the 22-year-old dynamo at around €60m (£51m). However, it remains to be seen whether or not United or the Gunners are prepared to meet that valuation.

Bayern Munich, who are due 50% of any profit made by Bologna, also have an option to buy him back for €40m (£34m) but the report claims that Zirkzee does not seem to be interested in a return to the German giants.

Joshua Zirkzee's Serie A stats

Like Hojlund last season, the young striker has caught the eye with his impressive performances at the top end of the pitch in the Serie A this term. The former Bayern starlet has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a centre-forward position, as evidenced by the stats in the table below.

23/24 Serie A

Joshua Zirkzee

Appearances

26

Expected Goals

8.10

Goals

10

Big chances created

9

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

Zirkzee has outperformed his xG by almost two goals, which suggests that the forward is effective in front of goal, whilst his teammates have let him down with three goals scored from the nine 'big chances' that he has created.

The right-footed attacker's creativity, as a number nine, has been particularly impressive. He currently ranks within the top 22% of Serie A forwards for Expected Assisted Goals (0.14) per 90, and the top 25% for shot-creating actions (3.14) per 90.

These statistics show that the Bologna star, who was hailed as "unpredictable" by analyst Ben Mattinson, excels as a creator for his teammates as he produced high-quality opportunities for his fellow attackers at an excellent rate.

Coupled with his aforementioned qualities as a finisher, Zirkzee's form in Italy suggests that he could be a superb addition to Erik ten Hag's squad and as Hojlund 2.0, given the whiz could be another fantastic young striker option signed from the Serie A.

For all the work that Ange Postecoglou has done in transforming the style of play at Tottenham Hotspur this season, the former Celtic boss also deserves credit for his astute moves in the transfer market, having enjoyed far more hits than misses in that department to date.

In fact, it is hard to think of any new arrivals who have not hit the ground running at N17, with Guglielmo Vicario proving a "revelation" in the sticks – according to pundit Jamie Carragher – while Micky van de Ven has proven himself to be a real "Rolls-Royce" at centre-back, as per Dutch journalist Suleyman Ozturk.

James Maddison has dazzled following his £40m move from Leicester City – providing ten goals and assists thus far – while Brennan Johnson is beginning to catch fire with two goals from his last three Premier League outings.

With even Timo Werner – who has two assists from his first four league appearances for the club – getting off to a promising start in Lilywhite, it would appear that Postecoglou has the Midas touch at present when it comes to recruitment.

The same could not always be said during Mauricio Pochettino's fondly remembered stint in charge, however, with one of the Argentine's last signings having particularly underwhelmed in recent years in north London.

Pochettino splashed out on teen talent

Just a matter of months prior to his shock sacking in November 2019, the current Chelsea boss oversaw the capture of promising teenager, Ryan Sessegnon from London rivals Fulham, with the youngster joining for a sizeable fee of around £25m.

That costly capture looked to be an astute move at the time, with the versatile gem – who can feature in a variety of roles down the left flank – having particularly impressed in the Championship in 2017/18, contributing 24 goals and assists to help fire the Cottagers to promotion.

A further haul of eight goal involvements the following season in the top-flight was enough for Spurs to make their move, with the young speedster looking set to have "a massive future" in the game, according to then-teammate Matt Targett, amid comparisons to a certain Gareth Bale.

Despite memorably scoring away to Bayern Munich during his first Champions League start in December 2019, Sessegnon's time at the club has never reached such heights again, with injury and a lack of game time having been central to his downfall.

That stark decline for the 23-year-old can be particularly seen in his plummeting transfer value, with it hard to see Daniel Levy and co being able to recoup anywhere close to that £25m figure if the wing-back is to depart in the near future.

Ryan Sessegnon's market value

With just a year left to run on his existing deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Englishman appears to be coming to the climax of a frustrating spell with the Lilywhites, having even been tipped for a loan move away from the club last month.

Despite reported shock interest from rivals Manchester United, the 5 foot 10 dynamo ultimately stayed put in Postecoglou's ranks, having only recently made his first appearance of the season against Burnley in the FA Cup, following a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

If the club are to push for a permanent exit for the player over the summer, amid his expiring contract, the suggestion is that they will have to sell him on the cheap, with CIES Football Observatory valuing the once-promising talent at just €5m (£4m).

While time is still on his side to revive his career, be it at Spurs or elsewhere, it is not as if Sessegnon has particularly impressed when he has been fit and available for the club, even being described as "a Championship player" by club insider John Wenham, as he "can’t beat a man, has no pace, has no strength and cannot deliver a cross".

The worst 10 Spurs transfer signings under Mauricio Pochettino

Football FanCast takes a look back at the worst signings the Argentine made as Spurs boss.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Oct 22, 2023

With only three goals and four assists to his name in 57 appearances in just under five years at Tottenham, the £55k-per-week man has certainly not proven value for money, with a fresh start in new surroundings arguably the best solution for all parties.

On Thursday, the franchise appointed Navnita as a massage therapist for IPL 2020

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Oct-2019Royal Challengers Bangalore have brought a woman staffer on board with the appointment of Navnita Gautam as a massage therapist for IPL 2020. It is rare for IPL teams to appoint female staff although the now defunct Deccan Chargers did have Ashleigh Joyce and Patricia Jenkins working as massage therapists in 2008 and 2009.As per a press release from the franchise on Thursday, Navnita will be working with head physiotherapist Evan Speechly and strength & conditioning coach Basu Shanker “to identify, evaluate, provide guidance and implement massage therapy to suit the team and any relevant prevailing conditions”.She will also be responsible for performing specialised techniques pertaining to the preparation, motivation and physical ailments of individual players.Talking about the appointment, the franchise chairman Sanjeev Churiwala said: “I am very pleased to be a part of this moment in history and another step in the right direction. The game has come a long way, in many ways, in terms of the women’s cricket team and how many people are watching it, the interest was long due. Sport is a great enabler, but it is important to ensure that the principles of equity in participation also extends to its staffing bodies. Increasing participation and success by women in all sporting arenas have made this possible and we at RCB are very thrilled to have found great talent in Navnita.”In August, RCB, who are still looking for their maiden IPL title, had appointed former New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson as director of cricket and former Australia batsman Simon Katich as head coach in a complete overhaul of their support staff.

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois de um primeiro tempo ruim, o Santos cresceu, fez um bom segundo tempo e empatou em 1 a 1 com o Red Bull Bragantino na noite deste sábado, no estádio Nabi Abi Cheddid, em Bragança Paulista, em jogo válido pela 10º rodada do Campeonato Paulista.

>> VEJA A CLASSIFICAÇÃO E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO SANTOS NO PAULISTÃO

Lucas Braga fez o gol do Peixe, que chegou a virar com um golaço de Jean Mota que foi anulado por um impedimento, no mínimo discutível, marcado pelo VAR no início da jogada.

RelacionadasSantosATUAÇÕES: Com golaço, Lucas Braga é o melhor do Santos no empate pelo PaulistãoSantos01/05/2021SantosApós rescisão, Ariel Holan publica mensagem de despedida do SantosSantos01/05/2021SantosPM pune torcida do Santos por mosaico provocativo ao CorinthiansSantos01/05/2021

Mesmo com o empate, o Santos segue na terceira colocação do grupo D, com dez pontos ganhos. Na próxima rodada, quinta-feira, o Peixe faz o clássico contra o Palmeiras. Antes, na terça, a equipe recebe o The Strongest, na Vila, pela fase de grupos da Copa Libertadores.

O jogo

No primeiro tempo, o Red Bull Bragantino marcou pressão na saída de bola e sufocou o Santos. A tática deu resultado aos 26 minutos. Pará saiu jogando errado, o time da casa recuperou e a bola sobrou para Claudinho na entrada da área. O ex-Menino da Vila chutou, a bola desviou em Luan Peres e entrou.

O time da casa quase fez o segundo aos 37. Pedrinho recebeu livre na área, mas o goleiro João Paulo fechou o ângulo do atacante do time de Bragança e salvou o Peixe.

No segundo tempo o Santos voltou mais ligado e empatou logo com um minuto. Marinho recebeu na direita e deu lindo lançamento para Lucas Braga. O atacante invadiu a área e soltou uma bomba para estufar as redes do goleiro Cleiton.

O Peixe chegou a virar em um golaço de Jean Mota, em chute da entrada da área aos 16 minutos. O árbitro deu o gol, mas o VAR apontou um impedimento bastante discutível de Marinho no início do lance.

FICHA TÉCNICA
RED BULL BRAGANTINO 1 X 1 SANTOS

Local: Estádio Nabi Abi Cheddid, em Bragança Paulista (SP)
Árbitro: Douglas Marques das Flores
Gols: Claudinho, aos 26′ do 1ºT, Lucas Braga, com 1′ do 2ºT
Cartões amarelos: Ryller e Cuello (Red Bull Bragantino) e Lucas Braga e Pará (Santos)

RED BULL BRAGANTINO
Cleiton, Aderlan, Leo Ortiz, Fabrício Bruno e Edimar; Ryller (Ramirez, aos 31′ do 2ºT), Lucas Evangelista e Claudinho, Artur, Ytalo e Pedrinho (Cuello, aos 24′ do 2ºT). Técnico: Maurício Barbieri

SANTOS
João Paulo, Pará, Kaiky Fernandes, Luan Peres e Felipe Jonatan; Alison, Jean Mota (Vinícius Balieiro, aos 43′ do 2ºT) e Gabriel Pirani (Lucas Lourenço, aos 22′ do 2ºT); Marinho, Marcos Leonardo (Allanzinho, aos 34′ do 2ºT) e Lucas Braga. Técnico: Marcelo Fernandes

Lionel Messi hit the bar with a failed spot-kick attempt in Argentina's Copa America quarter-final shootout win against Ecuador Thursday.

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• Argentina captain pinged penalty off the bar
• Emi Martinez spared blushes with shootout heroics
• Albiceleste will play in semi-final next week

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi endured a rare big-moment slip-up in Argentina's Copa America quarter-final clash with Ecuador, pinging a penalty off the bar in La Albiceleste's shootout win. Ecuadorian goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez consoled the Inter Miami forward immediately after, but it was a shocking start to the shootout.

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  His blunder ultimately mattered little as Emi Martinez provided yet another memorable shootout performance, stopping two Ecuador attempts, while Julian Alvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolas Otamendi all converted for Argentina in a 4-2 shootout win.

  Still, it's a haunting moment for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. One can't help but think of his missed attempt in the 2016 Copa America final – a moment that saw him briefly retire from the national team.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND ARGENTINA?

  La Albiceleste have secured a spot in a fifth-straight Copa America semi-final. They will face the winner of the Venezuela vs Canada tie Tuesday evening.

Somerset 30 for 2 trail Hampshire 196 (Dawson 103, Gregory 3-63) by 173 runsOnly twice this decade has a bowler ended a season with more than 50 Championship wickets at an average below 15, but after running through Hampshire’s top order at the Ageas Bowl, Lewis Gregory has a fighting chance to put his name alongside Graham Onions and Morne Morkel in doing so.Gregory’s opening burst accounted for Felix Organ, Sam Northeast and James Vince within the first 40 minutes of play, and with new-ball partner Josh Davey and the returning Craig Overton picking up a wicket apiece, Hampshire were reeling at 24 for 5.They soon fought back, primarily thanks to Liam Dawson’s first Championship hundred in three years, but after bad light interrupted the final session, Somerset reached the close two down with the expectation of bright sunshine tomorrow.A few years ago, it seemed that Gregory might never quite manage to fulfil his obvious promise. A former England under-19 captain, he had been a semi-regular wicket-taker in the Championship and an occasional contributor with the bat in white-ball cricket, but he had not quite kicked on in the way his club had once hoped, and back injuries were a constant source of irritation.Fast forward to the present day, and he is perhaps the best English player on the circuit yet to win an international cap. In T20, he is a brilliant finisher, and attracted interest from Rajasthan Royals before last year’s IPL auction, while in the Championship he is a precision engineer in his control of line and length.Here, he was nagging and accurate, nipping the ball both ways off the seam. He struck with the third ball of the day, as Organ fended to slip, before removing Northeast – brilliantly caught in the gully by Roelof van der Merwe – and clean bowling Vince with a sharp inswinger.”I’ve had a lot of issues physically which have held me back a little bit,” Gregory said. “Someone asked me earlier in the year what the difference has been [this season], and I think it’s purely been that.”The skill has always been there, it’s just being able to back that up, spell after spell. After a couple of operations it seems like I’m able to do that, so fingers crossed that continues.”Every man, woman and child in Somerset has underlined, circled and highlighted next week’s apparent title decider against Essex in their respective diaries, but a win here and a Surrey victory at Chelmsford could feasibly be enough to seal the pennant with a game to go.And at the stage of the season when every bonus point counts, Somerset had one within half an hour of the first morning of their penultimate game. On a pitch with a healthy covering of grass – Nigel Gray’s final home surface as Hampshire’s groundsman – both sides surprisingly wanted to bat, though Vince must have instantly regretted his decision.In the game between these sides here last summer, 34 wickets fell in five sessions as the final nail was hammered into the coffin that contained Somerset’s title hopes by teatime on the second day; after the early flurry of wickets, it seemed a repeat was on the cards.But during a vital stand of 92 between Dawson and Keith Barker, who made a doughty 40, batting suddenly began to look easy.”I think the ball got a little softer,” suggested Gregory. “It was hard to keep the ball in good condition. There was a little bit in the surface with a hard seam, and it seemed to nip around a little bit, so fingers crossed we can play well first thing in the morning, and with the sunshine out we can make hay.”Dawson has had an unusual summer, with a two-month stint carrying the drinks as part of England’s World Cup squad punctuating an otherwise unremarkable campaign, and he had off-field distractions to contend with in the form of lucrative contract offers from both Surrey and Warwickshire.Instead, he signed a new three-year deal at Hampshire, and was the only man to look comfortable against Somerset’s persistent attack. He seized on width well, playing the ball late under his eyes, and brought up his hundred with an elegant straight drive through mid-on.It would have been a source of immense frustration that he was dismissed in such tame fashion, flashing at a back-of-a-length ball from Tom Abell with minimal foot movement, but if this wicket proves to be low-scoring, his 103 runs may prove to be worth plenty more.”It is one of the quickest pitches I’ve played on here in the last couple of years,” said Dawson. “There is more bounce and zip than usual. When it is doing something, it is doing it quicker.”***Rilee Rossouw has played his final game of red-ball cricket for Hampshire. The South African batsman hinted at the start of the season that he was unlikely to extend his deal beyond this season, and will only play T20 for the club next year. It is as yet unclear as to whether he will attempt to resume his international career.Meanwhile, Tim Groenewald is set to leave Somerset after five-and-a-half years at the club. His contract expires at the end of the season, and it is expected that Kent will announce him as a new signing in the coming weeks.

Marseille have reportedly stepped up their efforts to prise Mason Greenwood away from Manchester United, with a formal transfer bid tabled.

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No future for forward at Old TraffordLinked with clubs across EuropeFresh start could take him to FranceWHAT HAPPENED?

The 22-year-old forward has no future at Old Trafford and has taken to starting pre-season training away from the Red Devils camp and alongside former team-mate Shola Shoretire. Greenwood is expected to have plenty of options to consider this summer.

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The one-cap England international impressed on loan at La Liga side Getafe last season, winning their Player of the Year award. He is now being linked with clubs across Europe as the likes of Juventus, Lazio, Valencia and Borussia Dortmund are credited with interest.

WHAT ROMANO SAID

Ligue 1 giants Marseille – who now have former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi at the helm – form part of that clamour, and has said when delivering an update on Greenwood’s future: “Understand Olympique Marseille have sent formal bid to Manchester United for Mason Greenwood! Talks underway between the two clubs, Greenwood’s still OM main target with agreement getting closer. Man United open to loan with obligation to buy, sell-on clause included.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Any loan agreement suggests that United will take up the option to extend Greenwood’s contract for a further 12 months through to 2026, ensuring that he retains value in the transfer market and does not head towards free agency.

Sunderland are still yet to pick up a single point since Mike Dodds took back the reins as interim Black Cats boss, with Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Norwich City just another crushing blow in a shambolic season.

Josh Sargent would break Sunderland hearts in the final ten minutes at Carrow Road, the clinical American striker powering home with ice in his veins after a long ball into the Black Cats' box had caused widespread panic.

Now onto 16 defeats in the Championship, Dodds' side are crying out for an attacker of Sargent's ilk to lead the line at the Stadium of Light with this striker in particular letting the abysmal Black Cats down on their travels yesterday.

Luis Semedo's performance vs Sunderland in numbers

Young Portuguese summer recruit Luis Semedo would be handed just his second start of the season against the Canaries, a personnel decision by Dodds that just didn't work when viewing the 20-year-old's lacklustre showing.

The former Benfica prodigy would only muster up 12 touches of the ball from his 66 minutes on the Carrow Road turf, cutting an isolated figure in Norfolk as a result.

Unable to register a single shot on Angus Gunn's goal also, Semedo was unsurprisingly hauled off by Dodds for other attackers to get their moment to shine late on in the second half.

Minutes played

66

Touches

12

Shots on goal

0

Successful dribbles

0

Accurate passes

7/8

Duels won

3/4

It wasn't a real surprise to see Semedo's poor performance receive scathing criticism in the aftermath of the 1-0 defeat therefore, with BBC Sport Tyne and Wear pundit Gary Bennett laying into the out-of-sorts striker on commentary duties.

He stated that Semedo looked "lost"against David Wagner's hosts, Bennett was also unimpressed by the youngster's commitment to the cause – further lambasting the 20-year-old for "just jogging about" at points.

Dodds, in retrospect, might well have kept the ex-Benfica sensation on the pitch for far too long to the overall detriment of his side.

Instead, if the interim Black Cats boss had just introduced Nazariy Rusyn into the contest quicker, Sunderland could have unsettled Norwich a lot more and stood more of a chance at picking up a big three points.

Nazariy Rusyn's performance vs Norwich in numbers

Rusyn was far more dangerous going forward from his short cameo against Norwich than Semedo managed from a forgettable 66 minutes, managing to fire two on-target efforts at Gunn's net from only 24 minutes played.

One of those opportunities would go down as a big chance missed, the Ukrainian attacker far more of a nuisance for Norwich to contain than the passive Semedo.

Over the course of a full match, Rusyn might well have been too tricky for the Canaries to thwart with Dodds then staring at more points on the board than another unwelcome zero.

Winning 100% of his duels at Carrow Road too, the 25-year-old could well be in line to start Sunderland's next Championship clash against Leicester City to try and unsettle the Foxes who are faltering at the top of the division.

The Black Cats are experiencing a far worse wobble than Enzo Maresca's league leaders, however, with Dodds just trying to piece together currently what his best XI is.

Looking at the 1-0 defeat on the road at Norwich, Semedo should be axed for Rusyn to lead the line on Tuesday night in one change Dodds will consider.