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Manchester United are considering a move for an overseas goalkeeper to replace Andre Onana, according to a recent report.

Andre Onana struggling at Man Utd

Since putting pen to paper from Inter over the summer, Onana hasn’t made the beginning to life that he would have hoped at his new home, having kept just four clean sheets (Transfermarkt – Onana statistics), but it’s not just letting goals in that have affected his performance levels in the Premier League.

The Red Devils goalkeeper has looked nervous with the ball at his feet on multiple occasions this season – something he was supposed to thrive at – and made some silly mistakes leading to the opposition being given an opportunity to hit the back of the net.

Therefore, Erik ten Hag may be regretting signing him in the first place and it sounds like he’s already seeking out successors, which has led him to FC Porto’s Diogo Costa, and it’s not the first time the boss has attempted to secure a deal for the 24-year-old.

The Old Trafford side were pushing to land the Portugal international after David De Gea left the club, but having instead opted to go for their current first-choice between the sticks, a move failed to come to fruition before the previous transfer deadline.

Man United still keen on deal for Diogo Costa

According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Man United sent scouts to watch Costa during FC Porto's 2-0 victory over Vizela last weekend. The Red Devils maintain an interest in their target and "could make a new move" for him in January.

The M16 outfit are planning to deploy chiefs to assess the goalkeeper again in the near future, with €75m (£65m) being the price tag that has been set for him by his club, but it yet remains to be seen whether the board are considering submitting an offer.

Diogo Costa's impressive clean sheet record

During his time at FC Porto, Costa has kept 50 clean sheets from 122 senior appearances, which has seen him described as a “superman” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so it’s understandable to see why Old Trafford chiefs would want to take a second bite of the cherry (Transfermarkt – Costa statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 1, Sergio Conceicao’s colossus has also made 12 saves from 18 shots on target against so far this season, giving him a 72.2% success rate (FBRef – Costa statistics), with his impressive performances having helped to contribute towards securing ten pieces of silverware for club and country since the start of his career.

Therefore, Ten Hag would only benefit from having Costa’s winning mentality and extraordinary shot-stopping skills in the building, so having been a player on the radar for quite some time, this could be one to keep a close eye on ahead of January.

Former Manchester City icon Paulo Wanchope believes that the club 'will be okay' even if they get relegated due to their 115 financial charges.

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• Man City under financial breach investigation

• Could face relegation if found guilty

• Wanchope believes club will survive punishment

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  With the club currently being investigated, there was been speculation that City could face the threat of relegation if found guilty. The investigation's verdict is reportedly expected at the end of the year, and although the club maintains their innocence, many analysts believe that if they are proven guilty, they could lose their place in the Premier League.

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• WHAT WANCHOPE SAID

  Speaking in an exclusive interview via LiveScore Bet, Wanchope said: "They will be able to bounce back whatever happens. The fanbase is very, very strong. That's why they are doing so well right now I think, because they had tough times before and got through it. I remember them playing in Division One [now the Championship] and Division Two [now League One] but even throughout that, the fans stood strong and they are very special. They will be okay whatever happens but hopefully there won't be any damaging sanctions anyway."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wanchope was part of the last Man City squad to have lost their Premier League status back in 2001. However, things at the club have changed significantly since then and a potential relegation could significantly hurt the club and their project.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  Pep Guardiola's side are looking to fight for their sixth league title in seven years, and they remain alive in the FA Cup and the Champions League as they look to complete a second straight treble.

Legspinner quit red-ball cricket this year, but Buttler’s successful Test return sets precedent for a shock recall

Andrew Miller19-Jul-2018

Could Adil Rashid be persuaded to make a return to Test cricket on the strength of his white-ball form? Don’t rule it out, is the message from Trevor Bayliss, after describing Rashid’s recent performances against Australia and India as “the best I’ve seen him bowl” since he took over as England’s head coach in 2015.Rashid claimed 20 wickets at 23.95 in England’s nine-match ODI campaign this summer (and a further five in four T20s), including arguably the collector’s item of his career to date – a big-ripping legbreak to bowl Virat Kohli in the series decider at Headingley, a ball that turned so sharply the India captain was left open-mouthed in astonishment.An unusually hot and dry summer has enhanced the conditions for spin bowling in England, and India have already responded by drafting the left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav into their Test squad after his own starring role in the limited-overs campaign.The chances of Rashid following suit would still appear to be slim, given that he retired from red-ball cricket earlier this year, saying that “his heart was not in it” after picking up ten wickets at 50 in seven Championship appearances last summer.He had not played a Test match for England since 2016-17, when he finished as England’s leading wicket-taker in India and Bangladesh with 30 scalps in seven Tests, and was overlooked for the home series against South Africa and West Indies, as well as the subsequent Ashes tour.However, England’s selection panel has been overhauled since the winter, and as Bayliss pointed out, the new National Selector Ed Smith set a precedent for Test selection on white-ball form with his very first squad.Against Pakistan in May, Jos Buttler returned to England’s Test team as a direct consequence of his hot run of form for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, and made an immediate impact with two half-centuries, including a match-defining 80 not out in the second Test at Headingley.Asked if England would urge Rashid to consider and follow Buttler’s example in Test cricket, Bayliss replied: “Possibly,” but added that the ball remained in the player’s court.”This year is probably the best we’ve seen him bowl,” Bayliss said of Rashid. “He’s bowled well in one-day cricket over the last few years but his control and his consistency this year has been top class and probably the best I’ve seen him bowl since I’ve been here.”That’s a decision he’s got to make,” he added. “I’m not sure whether Ed Smith’s had a chat with him or not. Could he get picked in the Test team on white-ball form? Well, it’s already been proven this year it’s happened once. So, look I’m sure he’ll be up for discussion definitely.”The desire to lure Rashid back to the fold is a reflection of England’s ongoing struggle to find a Test-class spinning option. In the wake of Moeen Ali’s loss of form during the Ashes, England blooded three new caps in their first four Tests in 2018, with Mason Crane and Jack Leach both suffering injuries that left Dom Bess as the man in possession by the end of the Pakistan series.Bess, 20, let no-one down with his attitude against Pakistan – not least with the bat, in making vital runs in both Tests, including a maiden fifty at Lord’s. However, he didn’t claim a wicket until the final day of the series, and Bayliss hinted that, all things being equal, he would likely defer to his senior Somerset colleague, Leach, whose broken thumb had given him his opportunity in the first place.”I think at this time of their careers that’s probably right,” said Bayliss.” I think Bess has got a lot of his career in front of him. But Leach was the one who was identified a couple of years ago and has done well over the last few seasons. I think if he shows any form at all, having a left-arm spinner in there would be of benefit.”A return for Moeen cannot be ruled out, however. Like Rashid, he finished the one-dayers flushed with confidence after out-performing his Indian counterparts in the decisive moments of the series, and with Ben Stokes set to miss the second Test due to his court case in Bristol, Moeen’s allround qualities may well bring him further into the frame.”He’s a confidence player and that’ll be a decision we have to make before that first Test. Do we take in two spinners for some of these games? Is it a bit drier this year and if we do we need to decide who those two are going to be.”The spin situation aside, Bayliss believes that England’s plans for the first Test, starting at Edgbaston on August 1, are fairly clear-cut. Dawid Malan’s timely runs for England Lions against India A ensure that the top-order that finished the series against Pakistan are all in a decent vein of form – not least the Test captain Joe Root, whose back-to-back hundreds against India were a timely statement of intent.”He was not necessarily out of form but he had a lack of runs I suppose in the last month or two,” said Bayliss. “Sometimes you get into a bit of a rut when the runs aren’t coming so to actually get that confidence back and play as he has done in the last two innings has been fantastic for Joe but also for the team as well.”

Aston Villa could smash their transfer record to sign an "incredible" player next year, with club officials potentially increasing their interest this week.

Aston Villa transfer update

The Villans and Unai Emery have made a solid start to the new Premier League season after bringing in some shrewd signings over the summer. So far, Villa have won six of their nine top-flight fixtures and one of their two Europa Conference League games ahead of tonight’s clash against AZ Alkmaar, with new additions Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres playing key roles in Emery’s side.

However, despite an impressive start, owners NSWE and president of football operations Monchi already appear to have an eye on 2024 and bolstering Emery’s squad even further. One player who was linked with a move to Villa Park in the summer was Sporting CP’s Pedro Goncalves, with Aston Villa transfer rumours continuing following the summer window. Now, a fresh claim has emerged which shows that Villa are still eyeing the Portugal international.

Sport Witness relayed a Pedro Goncalves transfer update in the last 48 hours, claiming that Villa are watching the player and could use tonight’s match when Sporting CP take on Rakow Czestochowa in the Europa League to increase their interest. Goncalves has a €80m (£70m) release clause in his contract, and there is a hint that Villa could pay that fee due to the financial power that English clubs have.

Pedro Goncalves in "incredible" form for Sporting

Goncalves is 25 years of age and is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or as an attacking midfielder. He was previously on the books with Midlands rivals Wolves but has starred back in his native country with Sporting in recent years, with reporter Sacha Pisani saying he’s “been playing at an incredible level since joining”.

In total, Goncalves contributed to a whopping 35 goals in all competitions last season and has already scored twice and registered two assists in the current campaign, where he has reportedly recently been tested as a full-back. (Pedro Goncalves stats – Transfermarkt)

Should he end up making the move to the Midlands for his release clause of €80m (£70m), then Goncalves would comfortably become the club’s most expensive signing of all time.

Aston Villa record signings

Fee

Moussa Diaby

€55m (£47.9m)

Emi Buendia

€38.4m (£33.4m)

Ollie Watkins

€34m (£29.6m)

Pau Torres

€33m (£28.7m)

Leon Bailey

€32m (£27.9m)

Diego Carlos

€31m (£27m)

Lucas Digne

€30m (£26.1m)

As can be seen above, NSWE haven’t been afraid to splash the cash at Villa Park in recent years, so if Goncalves continues to impress club scouts, a move could develop over the coming months, where he could possibly come in to challenge the likes of Diaby, Leon Bailey, Nicolo Zainolo and Emi Buendia.

Will Jacks shone once more and Connor Brown just missed out on his first List A century as Glamorgan fell to defeat at Kia Oval

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2018

ScorecardA crowd of almost 5,000 at the Kia Oval were given another glimpse of Will Jacks’ immense potential as the 19-year-old struck a brilliant 80 from 57 balls as Surrey eased to a five-wicket Royal London One-Day cup victory against the South Group’s bottom side Glamorgan.Sadly for Surrey, however, their fourth win of the competition did not earn them a quarter-final berth because Essex Eagles beat Kent Spitfires at Chelmsford to go through to the knockout stage alongside Kent and top-of-the-group Hampshire.Like Jacks, it was also a bittersweet day for another youngster, 21-year-old Glamorgan batsman Connor Brown, who earlier hit a six and nine fours to reach 98 from 136 balls in just his third List A appearance before being caught in the last over.But Glamorgan’s 50-over total of 266 for 8 was never going to be enough after Jacks and Jason Roy plundered 77 in only 8.3 overs for the second wicket to take full advantage of the initial ten-over Powerplay following the early dismissal of an out-of-form Mark Stoneman.Jacks, who also scored 121 against Gloucestershire earlier in the competition, reached his fifty from a mere 30 balls and pulled Timm van der Gugten powerfully for successive sixes in the eighth over of Surrey’s reply. With Roy also swinging Carey over deep square leg for six, it was only when off spinner Andrew Salter was introduced that Surrey’s cavalier progress was slowed.Salter bowled Roy for 23 with his second ball, when brought on for the tenth over, to leave Surrey 84 for 2, and then he also ended Jacks’ sparkling knock when the tall opener yorked himself as he advanced to drive. Jacks had hit 12 fours, besides those two huge sixes of Van der Gugten.From 125 for 3, it was left to Surrey captain Rory Burns and the classy Ben Foakes to steady Surrey with a fourth wicket stand of 79 in 14 overs.Both got out when victory was all but assured, Burns for a 69-ball 68, caught at long on off David Lloyd’s off breaks, and Foakes held at mid wicket off Carey for 30.Ollie Pope and Sam Curran, in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 51, completed the win with 9.2 overs to spare.Rikki Clarke, with a deserved 3 for 49, was the most successful bowler in a disciplined Surrey attack in which Morne Morkel looked a class apart while taking 2 for 39 from his ten overs. Tom Curran had a rare off day as he was taken for 80 from his ten-over allocation.Glamorgan lost their first two wickets without a run on the board, as openers Nick Selman and Aneurin Donald fell to Morkel and Sam Curran respectively to the third and tenth balls of the match.Glamorgan’s recovery was launched by Brown and Colin Ingram, the captain, who put on 85 in 18 overs for the third wicket but Ingram then aimed a reverse sweep at off spinner Batty – perhaps an error of judgement on the left-hander’s part at that stage of the innings – and was lbw for 44.Ingram had faced 59 balls, hitting sixes off both Batty and Tom Curran, but his dismissal was quickly followed by that of Lloyd, who was caught at long leg in the 25th over when Morkel returned for a quick second burst.Brown was fortunate to squeeze a searing Sam Curran yorker off the toe of his bat just past Foakes for four to go to his half-century but he and his fellow youngster, the 20-year-old Kiran Carlson, added 65 to give Glamorgan the chance to post some sort of defendable total.Carlson was leg-before to the accurate Clarke for 33 but Brown, accelerating, pulled Sam Curran for six and then swatted Morkel over mid off for four to go into the 80s.Graham Wagg proved to be just the man Glamorgan needed to join Brown, swinging three legside sixes in a violent 18-ball 35 before he skied Clarke to extra cover.Brown, needing just two for his first List A hundred, selflessly swung the second ball of the final over, bowled by Clarke, to deep midwicket.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em meio à crise e a proximidade da zona de rebaixamento, Vasco e Corinthians se enfrentam nesta quarta, às 21h30, em São Januário, na abertura da 18ª rodada do Brasileirão 2020. Ambas as equipes foram derrotadas no final de semana e buscam reencontrar o caminho das vitórias para ter mais tranquilidade no returno.

O duelo reserva as estreias do treinador português Ricardo Sá Pinto e do argentino Leonardo Gil pelo Vasco. Sem vencer há 8 jogos na temporada, a equipe teve apenas dois treinamentos com seu novo comandante e necessita dos três pontos para retomar a confiança e o equilíbrio do início do campeonato.

No entanto, o time terá que quebrar um longo tabu: 10 anos sem vencer o Corinthians (7 empates e 11 derrotas). A última vitória aconteceu no dia: 13 de outubro de 2010,quando o Vasco fez 2 a 0, com gols de Zé Roberto e Éder Luís, também em São Januário.

O Corinthians, por sua vez, novamente não irá repetir uma escalação na temporada. O técnico Vagner Mancini terá os retornos de Bruno Méndeze Ramiro, que não estiveram em campo na goleada sofrida para o Flamengo, no último domingo. Além deles, o time poderá ter a estreia de um velho conhecido da torcida, o lateral esquerdo Fábio Santos, que foi regularizado.

Ambas as equipes estão com 18 pontos, apenas dois a mais queAthletico-PR, Coritiba e Bragantino, que estão na zona de rebaixamento no momento. Contudo, o Cruz-Maltino têm dois jogos a menos na classificação e uma vitória a mais (5 a 4).

RelacionadasVídeoFábio Santos fala dos bastidores do acordo para voltar ao CorinthiansVídeo20/10/2020CorinthiansFábio Santos aparece no BID e pode reestrear pelo Corinthians na quartaCorinthians20/10/2020VascoLeonardo Gil é regularizado e poderá estrear pelo Vasco contra o Corinthians em São JanuárioVasco20/10/2020

FICHA TÉCNICA

VASCO x CORINTHIANS

Data-Hora: 21-10-20 – 21h30
Local: São Januário, Rio de janeiro (RJ)
Árbitro: Caio Max Augusto Vieira (RN)
Assistentes: Jean Marcio dos Santos (RN) e Vinicius Melo de Lima (RN)
Árbitro de vídeo: Pablo Ramon Goncalves Pinheiro (RN)
Onde acompanhar: Tempo real do LANCE! / TV Globo e Canais Premiere

VASCO: Fernando Miguel, Cayo Tenório, Miranda, Leandro Castan e Henrique; Andrey, Marcos Junior (Leonardo Gil), Carlinhos e Benítez; Cano e Talles Magno. Técnico: Ricardo Sá Pinto.

Lesionados: Breno, Ricardo Graça, Ramon e Juninho
Pendurados: Talles Magno, Gabriel Pec, Guilherme Parede e Fellipe Bastos
Suspensos:

CORINTHIANS:Cássio, Fagner, Marllon (Bruno Méndez), Gil e Fábio Santos (Lucas Piton); Xavier; Ramiro, Camacho, Mateus Vital e Cazares; Boselli (Luan).Técnico: Vagner Mancini.

Desfalques: Léo Santos e Jô
Suspensos: Otero
Pendurados: Mateus Vital, Walter, Cássio e Roni

PALPITES

Na redação do LANCE!, 50% apostam no empate, 30% na vitória do Vasco, 20% no Corinthians.

Kagiso Rabada’s appeal hearing against a Level 2 sanction which cost him three demerit points and a 50% fine of his Port Elizabeth match fee will take place on March 19. The ICC have appointed New Zealand’s Michael Heron as the judicial commissioner and the hearing will be held via video conference.Heron will have 48 hours to reach a decision, which means Rabada will learn his fate by Wednesday. If cleared, he could play in the Newlands Test that starts on Friday.Heron is a judicial commissioner for New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR, the body which operates rugby competitions between South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. He is also a national commissioner for New Zealand Cricket and a member of the ICC’s code of conduct commission and dispute resolution committee.Rabada will be represented by high-profile South African advocate, Dali Mpofu.Rabada was found guilty of making inappropriate and deliberate contact with Steven Smith after dismissing him in the first innings of the second Test between South Africa and Australia at St George’s Park. After having Smith trapped lbw, Rabada screamed “yes, yes, yes” in the direction of Smith, and then made contact with his shoulder on his way to celebrating with team-mates. In the aftermath, Rabada maintained he did not feel any contact and would not have contested the charge if he had.Rabada went into the fixture on five demerit points and the incident took him to eight, which equated to a two-Test ban. Rabada also earned a ninth demerit point when he gave David Warner a send-off in the second innings but did not contest that charge. That means if Rabada is cleared he will still have six demerit points to his name and will remain two away from a suspension.

Manchester United’s rather feeble start to the Premier League season could tempt Erik ten Hag back into the transfer market before the window shuts next week.

So far, only Andre Onana, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund have arrived at Old Trafford and if the Dutchman aims to challenge for the league title and go deep in the Champions League, some more strength in depth will be required.

One name to be linked with the club recently may not make the move to the Red Devils until January, however, he would be worth the wait.

Who will Man United sign next?

According to FootballTransfers, United are looking to bring Brentford striker Ivan Toney to the club in January, having had conversations with the Englishman during pre-season.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

Toney is currently serving an eight month ban from all football activity having been found guilty by the FA of several gambling breaches, and he won't be able to play for his club until 2024.

The Old Trafford side first showed interest in the forward back in April and now it appears as though Ten Hag is ready to wait a few more months to sign him.

Brentford placed a £50m price tag on his head and United will surely have to move a few players on in order to raise the sufficient funds.

How good is Ivan Toney?

Last season, United placed an over-reliance on Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes in terms of goals, with the duo the only players in the squad to score over ten goals throughout the whole of the 2022/23 campaign.

Anthony Martial netted just nine times and it’s clear he shouldn’t be relied upon to be the focal point of the United attack.

The Frenchman ranked in a lowly 17th spot across the squad with regard to his Sofascore rating (6.79) in the league, while ranking fifth for goals and assists (eight), fourth for shots on target (0.6) and tenth for big chances created (two).

By comparison, Toney topped the pile out of the whole Brentford squad, achieving a Sofascore rating of 7.25 while also ranking first for goals and assists (24), shots on target per game (1.3) and second for big chances created (12), clearing indicating that he’d be a major upgrade on the current United striker.

Thomas Frank, his current boss at Brentford, lauded Toney earlier this year, saying:

"He is a special footballer, I think his character is unique in terms of leadership and driving his team. His link-up play and the way he sees his team-mates around in terms of combinations and then his ability to score goals. He is an all-around football player."

Martial has failed to live up to the massive hype that was generated upon his arrival in Manchester back in 2015 and across his eight seasons at the club, has netted over 20 goals just once, back during the 2019/20 campaign.

Toney is still only 27 and is arguably heading into his peak years. If Ten Hag could lure him from Brentford in January, the goal machine would supplement Hojlund perfectly and give the Dutchman something different in attack.

Liverpool have confirmed that a youth player was racially abused in an Under-16 game against Juventus, leading the team to walk off the pitch.

Why did the Liverpool U16 team walk off the pitch?

Playing in the Next Generation Trophy last Friday – a tournament held in Austria – the Reds were up against their Italian counterparts when the incident took place.

As per The Athletic, the Liverpool teenager involved went to the touchline to report the abuse to the coaching staff, who informed the players to follow protocol and leave the field.

The Juventus youngster involved was then suspended by his club for the rest of the tournament while staff offered the English side a full apology.

A Liverpool spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a member of our under-16s team was racially abused by an opponent while playing in the Next Generation youth tournament in Austria.

“The individual responsible was identified immediately and removed from the competition as a result of the swift intervention of our own players and staff, tournament organisers and opposition management, who have also taken additional disciplinary measures inclusive of education.

“We would like to place on record our appreciation for the prompt actions taken by all involved. This applies most of all to the player subjected to the attack, who showed remarkable maturity in following established protocols, including leaving the pitch, in order to report the matter as soon as it occurred. He is receiving the full support of the club.

“We would also reiterate that our condemnation of all forms of racist abuse remains unequivocal and absolute.”

What has been the reaction to the racist incident in the Liverpool U16 game vs Juventus?

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, before the statement had been officially given by Liverpool's spokesperson, former player Djibril Cisse took to social media to express his dismay and anger about what had happened.

The ex-French footballer has a son, Prince, who currently plays in the Reds' academy and was involved in the game.

Writing to his two million Instagram followers, Cisse said (via TalkSport): “Now it’s too much.

“During the game @LiverpoolFC vs @Juventus under 16s (my son Prince Cisse was playing) a kid from Juventus called a @LiverpoolFC a n****.

“The @LiverpoolFC staff had to stop the game. @Juventus what are you gonna do now? It’s a f****** shame. 15 years old kid @Juventus, you better act strongly now and shame.”

As per The Athletic, direct action has already been taken. Indeed, they report that staff members from Juventus’ academy and tournament organisers Red Bull Salzburg have since contacted Liverpool academy director Alex Inglethorpe to express their regret about the incident and check on the youngster’s well-being.

While it's also mentioned that the Juventus youth player is now undergoing a course to educate him that racism and all forms of discrimination are unacceptable. It is understood that senior Liverpool figures are happy with how Juventus have handled the matter.

All in all, it's a shameful incident and thoroughly disappointing to learn of such attitudes and behaviour existing within the academy of Europe's biggest football clubs.

In response to the incident, however, in a show of solidarity ahead of their following game at the Next Generation Trophy, Liverpool and their Argentinian opposition Independiente took the knee before kick-off.

The Australia captain said he wanted to see more of what the 28-year-old Hughes had to offer, given his international potential, and so last summer’s leading Sheffield Shield run-maker Cowan had to miss out for NSW

Daniel Brettig24-Oct-2017

Australia’s captain Steven Smith has taken the responsibility for New South Wales’ (NSW) contentious decision to drop last season’s leading Sheffield Shield run-maker Ed Cowan, stating that he wished to see more of the younger left-hander Daniel Hughes ahead of the international season.While not an official NSW selector, Smith said he had involvement in the call alongside the coach Trent Johnston, with all state coaches and talent managers aware of the wider philosophies underpinning Shield selection and the search for youthful talent capable of playing for Australia. Key to the decision was the fact that Smith himself has seen little of the 28-year-old Hughes as a batsman, due to his own international commitments.”I did have an involvement and it’s a tough selection, definitely,” Smith said when launching his new book, , in Sydney. “Ed was a fantastic player last year he played beautifully but with Davey [Warner] and I back in the team, it’s always been the way at NSW with guys coming back and unfortunately people have to miss out and on this occasion it’s Ed. We’ve opted for Daniel Hughes to play at No.6.”He’s been in terrific form in the JLT Cup, he scored 200 in grade cricket on Saturday and I think he’s a player potentially for the future, so it’s a good opportunity for him to play with the likes of myself and Davey. Learn a little bit off us and the way we prepare and a good chance for me to see him play as well.”I think I’ve only played in one game with him in the game after Hobart here the SCG last year, so good opportunity for me to see him and unfortunately on this occasion it’s Ed that misses out. But I’ve told him myself that when he comes back into the team when we all go [to play Tests], he has to continue to set the standard and do what he did so well last year, because he did have a very good year.”Smith made it clear that he felt Hughes was a player of international potential, which factored into the decision. “I think he does [look like an international player], yeah. He’s 28 years old,” Smith said. “He’s coming to his prime in terms of age and batsmen. He looks like he has a very good technique. He plays the new ball well as we’ve seen in one-day cricket and it’ll be interesting to see how he goes against some good pink-ball bowlers in Adelaide, in [Chadd] Sayers, [Daniel] Worrall and Kane Richardson. Good opportunity for him.”Whether I’m playing or playing a Test match and watching scores, I’m always looking at what guys are doing in state cricket. Always trying to find the next best players to come in and play in the Australian team. I certainly have my eye out.”Looking ahead to the shape of the Test team to face England in the Ashes next month, Smith said he was looking for big runs from players capable of filling the uncertain No. 6 berth in the batting order, whether an allrounder or not. As an on-field captain, Smith will be hopeful the emerging player can also bowl serviceable seam overs, but made it clear that runs were the priority.”I think first and foremost we need our best six batters playing. It’s going to be important to get some runs out of that position. It’d be good if they could bowl but in the end it’s down to having the best six batters,” he said. “Preferably [a seamer], but we’ll wait and see. We’ve got these two Shield games until it’s picked and a third game for some guys to put their name up there. Hopefully we see some big scores.”It’s a great little preparation for the international guys, three shield games before the first Test hasn’t happened for a long time. But also a good opportunity for a few guys to stand up, knowing there might be a few positions up for grabs, it puts a little bit of pressure on and we like seeing guys perform under pressure, so hopefully a few guys step up and really ‘bash the lights out’.”A source of great excitement for Smith arrived on the weekend, when he faced Mitchell Starc in the nets at Sydney Church of England Grammar School on the North Shore. “I faced Mitchell at Shore School on Saturday and he was swinging the ball, which is fantastic,” Smith said. “Left-armers that bowl at good pace and swing the ball are a great weapon, so let’s hope he can keep doing that.”With the pink ball it certainly was. The white ball probably only swings for two overs, maybe three at the start of a game, so it’s hard to get a real gauge on that. But the red ball and the pink ball usually swing for a little bit longer. It’s a big weapon to have if he’s swinging them back into the right-handers.”