تسبب برونو فرنانديز، لاعب فريق مانشستر يونايتد، في إثارة حيرة جماهير النادي الإنجليزي، بعدما ارتبط مؤخرًا بعرض ضخم من الهلال السعودي.
ويسعى نادي الهلال إلى الحصول على خدمات النجم البرتغالي في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي لهذا العام.
وأفادت تقارير صحفية أمس أن إدارة الهلال مستعدة لتقديم عرض خرافي، من الناحية المالية، لاستقطاب برونو فرنانديز (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
وتحدث المدرب روبن أموريم عن الأمر، حيث صرّح بأنه يشعر برغبة برونو فرنانديز في البقاء داخل “الأولد ترافورد” رغم أنه لا أحد يمكنه التكهن بأي شئ في كرة القدم (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).
ورغم ذلك، فإن برونو فرنانديز أثار حيرة جمهور مانشستر يونايتد بسبب رسالة غريبة نشرها عبر حسابه الشخصي بموقع إنستجرام.
وكتب البرتغالي: “إذا حاولت وفشلت، تهانينا! هناك أشخاص لا يحاولون حتى!”.
وليس من المعروف الغرض وراء ما كتبه برونو فرنانديز، وما إذا كان يقصد شئ بعينه أم أنها مجرد مقولة لا علاقة لها بما يُثار حول مستقبله وإمكانية رحيله.
A “fantastic” Aston Villa player is now “close” to returning from an injury setback, in what could be a boost for manager Unai Emery.
Villa's injury struggles
Speaking ahead of tonight’s fixture against Liverpool in the Premier League, Emery has admitted he doesn’t know the reason behind Villa’s injury problems this season, having been forced to substitute a player in the first half of each of his side’s last five matches.
Emery said: “It’s difficult to know exactly the reason for the injured players. Normally, a lot of teams have a lot of injuries. Maybe some teams do not, like tomorrow in Liverpool.
“We are playing a lot of matches, which adds more risk to players. Kamara was ready to play (against Ipswich) but had some problems in his back.
“But the injury is not coming from his back, it is in his hamstrings. We are meeting with doctors, physios to see how we can get better at anticipating the circumstances like we had. But exactly why is difficult to have this information.”
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A number of key players have been sidelined in recent weeks, with Matty Cash, Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley, Leon Bailey and Ezri Konsa all spending time on the treatment table.
However, Emery has now revealed Bailey is “close” to overcoming a calf injury and being available for selection, with the manager hinting he could be involved tonight against Liverpool.
The winger is said to be a “doubt”, alongside Cash and Konsa, who also returned to training yesterday morning, but the manager was coy on whether the trio would have any involvement against the league leaders.
Aston Villa'sLeonBaileyin action with Celtic's Greg Taylor
"Fantastic" Bailey returning to form
The Jamaica international was a vital player for Villa last season, being lauded as “fantastic” by Emery, while also amassing ten goals and nine assists in the Premier League en-route to his side achieving qualification for the Champions League.
This season, the 27-year-old hasn’t quite had the same impact, but he had started to show some more promising signs prior to his recent injury setback, scoring in the 2-1 victory against Leicester City and creating two big chances against Celtic.
After just one win in their last five Premier League games, it could be a difficult task for the Villans to qualify for Europe once again, and there are some tricky games on the horizon.
Aston Villa’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Liverpool (h)
February 19th
Chelsea (h)
February 22nd
Crystal Palace (a)
February 25th
Brentford (a)
March 8th
Brighton & Hove Albion (a)
April 1st
As such, Emery will need his best players available if his side are going to mount a European push and remain competitive in the Champions League, so it is good news some key players are set to return, but Bailey needs to start chiming in with some more goals and assists.
A “unique” Newcastle United player is now close to leaving the club in the January transfer window, with an agreement reached over his exit.
Newcastle transfer news
Magpies transfer rumours are refusing to go away as the current window nears its conclusion next Monday, with Semih Kilicosoy linked with a move to St James’ Park over the weekend. The 19-year-old Besiktas winger is a target this month, but it may depend on whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to keep him or not.
While Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande has been mentioned as an option to come in and boost Eddie Howe’s defensive options, Barcelona ace Eric Garcia is being looked at as an alternative, as Newcastle look to find a long-term partner for Sven Botman.
FC Barcelona'sEricGarciacelebrates scoring their fourth goal
When it comes to January outgoings at St James’, Miguel Almiron has consistently been linked with a move away, with an agreement reportedly reached with MLS side Atlanta United.
That said, personal terms were yet to be agreed, which was acting as a potential stumbling block, but there has now been a fresh development in the saga.
Newcastle ace agrees January exit with medical booked
According to Monumental AM 1080 [via Sport Witness], an agreement has been reached to bring an end to Almiron’s Newcastle career. The 30-year-old will sign a four-year deal at Atlanta, with the transfer fee thought to be £9.6m. He will travel there at the end of the week to complete the transfer and undergo a medical.
Journalist Cesar Luis Merlo has also backed this up, saying the deal is “done”, with just a medical and an official announcement to come.
Newcastle United's MiguelAlmironbefore the match
This ultimately feels like the right decision for everyone concerned, even though Howe has shown his love for Almiron in the past, saying:
“He’s (Almiron) a unique footballer. I don’t think there’s anyone better at doing what he does – all energy, all action. I’d like to see his physical stats today because I’m sure they’d be through the roof. The quality he showed with his finish was very reminiscent of some of the goals he scored last year. It’s a great return to form for Miggy – he’s such an important player for us.”
Miguel Almiron’s Newcastle stats
Total
Appearances
223
Goals
30
Assists
12
Almiron was struggling to get minutes with Newcastle this season, with Jacob Murphy often preferred on the right flank, and at 30, he isn’t getting any younger. He hasn’t registered a single goal contribution in nine Premier League appearances in 2024/25, highlighting his lack of influence and action.
The Paraguayan’s commitment and team ethic have always been impressive, but a lack of end product has too often been an issue, with the Magpies ace not possessing the elite quality in that area that Howe now needs moving forward.
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Almiron will be remembered fondly by Newcastle supporters on the whole, however, due to his likeable personality, and they will hope he flourishes in the MLS.
Nottinghamshire 240 and 284 for 7 (Hameed 94, James 56, Robinson 3-55) lead Sussex 143 (Paterson 5-43, Pattinson 5-56) by 381 runsEngland’s Ollie Robinson increased his wickets haul to seven in the match but Nottinghamshire were in full control at the halfway stage of their LV= Insurance County Championship match against Sussex.Robinson proved deadly with the new ball for the second time, reducing the Division Two leaders to 40 for 3 in their second innings. But after Haseeb Hameed made 94 and Lyndon James 56, Nottinghamshire finished on 284 for 7, with a lead of 381.Earlier, Nottinghamshire pace bowlers James Pattinson and Dane Paterson finished with five wickets each as Sussex, who sit next to bottom of the table, were bowled out for 143 in reply to Nottinghamshire’s first innings 240.To add to their woes, any points take from this match – they have three thus far – may be lost, as they stand at minus six on their over-rate.Nottinghamshire needed just under an hour first thing to take the final five Sussex wickets, the key breakthrough coming in the sixth over when Paterson trapped Cheteshwar Pujara with an inswinging ball that was too good even for a player of the Indian Test star’s calibre.His wicket, ending a partnership worth 71, more than compensated the South African bowler for a chance missed earlier when Archie Lenham, the 18-year-old son of Neil Lenham and grandson of Les, who had battled courageously alongside Pujara in the face of a high class attack, was put down at second slip.With Pujara gone, Paterson and Pattinson ripped through the remainder so quickly that all five wickets fell for 23 runs in the space of 34 deliveries.Pattinson removed Lenham for a gutsy 31, the youngster looking disappointed to be given out leg before after the ball rolled away to third slip. Robinson was strangled down the leg side, prompting Luke Fletcher to appear alongside Pattinson to congratulate him on his first five-wicket haul of the season.Not to be outdone, Paterson knocked out Sean Hunt’s off stump before having Ari Karvelas plainly leg-before to finish with 5 for 43, Pattinson having taken 5 for 56.As on day one of a breathtakingly fast-moving contest, Robinson came up with a superb opening spell as Sussex, trailing by 97 on first innings, made early inroads.Again, his fourth and fifth overs were productive as Ben Slater, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke departed in the space of six deliveries, the last-named pair without scoring.Slater went after a short ball with little chance of controlling the shot and was caught at fine leg. Duckett was caught behind off an inside edge before Clarke, offering no shot, was lbw to a ball that kept low.If they had winkelled out Hameed at that point, Sussex might have felt they were back in the contest but the sometime England opener, closing on 1,000 first-class runs in a season for the first time since his sensational breakthrough year at Lancashire in 2016, looked in splendid touch.A superbly timed straight drive for four in Robinson’s opening over was evidence of that and by the time he pulled Brad Currie to the fence for his ninth boundary he had 50 from 71 balls. Having seen the back of Robinson for a while, he and James added 138 in 33 overs.Hameed missed out on a hundred when a ball from Hunt, the 20-year-old left-armer, nipped away to have him caught behind. In his best spell of the match, Hunt also dismissed James, lbw trying to work him to leg.Currie removed Tom Moores shortly after tea with another delivery that found the edge and Steven Mullaney, whose 70 was the key innings in Nottinghamshire’s first innings, added another 42 before he was leg before sweeping another 18-year-old, the left-arm spinner.Pattinson and Liam Patterson-White added 34 before bad light brought the close forward by two overs.
Sheffield United are believed to have an “excellent” Championship player on their list of potential signings in the January transfer window, according to a new update.
Latest Sheffield United news
It has been a positive first half of the season for the Blades, who continue to look one of the front-runners to secure automatic promotion from the Championship to the Premier League in 2024/25. Chris Wilder’s side currently sit second in the league table behind leaders Leeds United, one point ahead of Burnley in third place, although back to back disappointing results was an unfortunate way to end the year.
Next up for United is a huge game away to fourth-place Sunderland on New Year’s Day, which will be a massive test of their promotion credentials. The Black Cats have impressed under Regis Le Bris this season, with young players such as Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham catching the eye.
Victory for the Blades would feel like one of their most significant results of the campaign so far, suggesting that they will have enough to return to the top flight. The January window will offer the chance for new faces to arrive at Bramall Lane, and they are being linked with a move for an impressive Championship player.
Sheffield United eyeing "excellent" player in January
According to a new report from The Sheffield Star, Sheffield United have Preston North End striker Emil Riis Jakobsen on their transfer list ahead of January.
The 26-year-old scored twice against the Blades’ rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship on Sunday, which were his sixth and seventh goals in the competition this season. He is out of contract at Deepdale at the end of the current season.
Jakobsen could be a really shrewd addition for United midway through the season and Preston could be tempted to sell him, in order to receive a fee for his signature, rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer.
The Dane has impressed for some time now, with Ryan Lowe lauding him back in 2020, saying: “There’s not many (like him about). These number nines now, you look at Riis and he’s on the shoulder.
“He knows where it’s going, it’s the spin on the ball and the defender has turned the other way and it’s a great finish. But fair play to the boy, he was rejected at Derby County and didn’t do it there, but he’s scored his first league goal in the Championship and it was an excellent performance from him.”
For all the Blades’ excellence this season, no player has scored more than six goals in the Championship – Tyrese Campbell tops the pile – highlighting the need to bring in additional firepower.
Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season
Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.
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In Jakobsen, United would be snapping up a player who is hugely experienced at this level, giving them an extra boost in their promotion push between now and the end of the season.
Adversário do Corinthians nesta quarta-feira (20), pela partida de ida da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil, o atacante Victor Paraíba está confiante na classificação da Portuguesa/RJ, clube que ele defende.
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O jogador destaca que o time carioca deixará a vida em campo a fim de entrar para a história.
> TABELA – Confira a tabela da Copa do Brasil > GALERIA – Veja todos os técnicos estrangeiros da história do Corinthians
– Vamos acreditar. Temos que acreditar nessa classificação. Vamos jogar a vida nos dois jogos para que a equipe possa fazer história. Esse é o objetivo de todos – disse o atleta.
Para que a classificação aconteça, Paraíba não esconde a importância do primeiro jogo, ainda que ele não seja disputado no estádio Luso-Brasileiro, casa da Lusa, isso porque o local possui menos de 10 mil lugares como capacidade, mínimo exigido pela CBF.
A diretoria da Portuguesa/RJ até tentou, mas, sem êxito, levar o jogo para o Nilton Santos ou São Januário, mas os valores dos alugueis desses estádios deixaram a situação inviável, segundo o clube lusitano.
A alternativa, portanto, foi levar a partida para Londrina, para que e Lusa carioca angarie recursos financeiros para fortalecer o time na disputa da Série D do Brasileirão, ainda esse ano.
Mesmo assim, Victor acredita que a Portuguesa/RJ precisa fazer valer o seu mando de campo e errar o mínimo possível contra o Timão.
– É um jogo em que não podemos errar. Não há espaço para falhas. Vamos lutar muito durante os noventa minutos para que a equipe possa fazer uma grande partida para buscar um resultado positivo em casa. Vamos em busca de uma vantagem. O grupo sabe do potencial do adversário e está preparado”, disse o jogador – destacou o atacante.
Victor Paraíba tem 23 anos e está na Portuguesa/RJ desde o início deste ano. Revelado pelo CSA/AL, mesmo tendo passagem pela base de Sport Recife, o atleta também vestiu as camisas do Atlético/GO e Ferroviária/SP como profissional.
Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement may have his eyes on the next couple of games, but with the January transfer window opening next week, the focus will soon turn to new signings.
It’s safe to say that despite rumours of a potential sacking, he has managed to calm the choppy waters surrounding the Ibrox ship, with Rangers having lost just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions, the League Cup final.
Despite that, the Ibrox side requires another new player or two to bolster the first-team squad and freshen things up slightly.
The question is, will he have much of a budget and who could the players to arrive over the winter window?
This one could be a particularly exciting signing…
Rangers transfer news
According to reports from Caught Offside last week, the Light Blues are just one of the teams who are showing interest in Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ahead of the January transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report states that the Blues view him as being surplus to requirements after just six months at Stamford Bridge since he made the move from Leicester City during the summer transfer window.
It appears as though Arsenal are leading the charge among a host of Premier League sides, but a loan move could potentially be on the cards for Clement and Koppen.
With Europa League football on offer plus the chance to win a trophy or two, Ibrox could be an ideal destination for the player.
Those in the current squad would benefit from Dewsbury-Hall’s impressive ability in the final third too, especially Hamza Igamane.
Why Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall would be perfect for Igamane
The Moroccan striker has scored six goals for the Gers this term already and is swiftly becoming an important member of the squad.
He is already thriving with the likes of Nedim Bajrami, Ianis Hagi and Vaclav Cerny providing plenty of chances for him to tuck away. Imagine how good he could be if the current Chelsea gem was operating directly behind him, however.
This season hasn’t exactly been his best due to the lack of opportunities in the first team, but he has still scored twice and grabbed an assist for the Blues.
During Leicester’s Championship title win last season, Dewsbury-Hall was in sensational form for the club. In 44 second-tier matches, the Englishman scored 12 times and grabbed 14 assists as the Foxes made an immediate return to the Premier League.
Not only that, but the 26-year-old also created a staggering 20 big chances throughout the campaign along with averaging 2.5 key passes and succeeded with 1.3 dribbles per match for the Foxes.
Dewsbury-Hall’s stats since August 2023
Metric
2023/24 (Championship)
2024/25 (Premier League)
Goals
12
0
Assists
14
0
Big chances created
20
0
Key passes per game
2.5
0.2
Shots per game
2
0
Via Sofascore
Hailed by Enzo Maresca as being “dangerous” in advanced areas, his skillset would be perfect for Igamane, creating chances galore in the final third for the striker to finish.
Of course, Rangers wouldn’t be able to afford a permanent move for the player, especially when the likes of Arsenal are sniffing around the player. This indicates that a temporary move would be the best course of action for Clement.
Chelsea's KiernanDewsbury-Hallin action with Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana
If he could secure his services on a six-month loan deal, it might make all the difference for the club as they aim to wrestle back the Premiership title from Celtic.
It will be difficult, but in football, anything can happen.
Rangers looking at signing "tremendous" £3m star who could be Raskin 2.0
Rangers could be set to make a signing or two next month…
Birmingham City will be aiming to keep up their flawless December right until the very close of the busy month, having picked up a stunning five victories from five so far.
Their last win in League One was a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers which even saw opposition manager Matt Taylor lose his job.
Away from that unfortunate manager casualty, Jay Stansfield stood out once more for the promotion chasing Blues in this contest, as the ex-Fulham man scored yet again for Chris Davies’ side.
Standout Birmingham players in attack
Stansfield confidently converting from the penalty spot versus the Gas took his ever-growing goal total in league action to a hefty ten from just 13 clashes, as Birmingham’s insistence on splashing the cash on their former loanee continues to pay off.
Despite the fact the 22-year-old would only muster up 32 touches of the ball from his 78 minutes on the St. Andrew’s turf, he would still manage to register a high eight shots on the Rovers net, with the Birmingham number 28 ultimately thankful for the spot-kick to break his duck on the day.
Whilst the on-fire attacker lapped up more praise, Keshi Anderson also shone for Davies’ side, having found himself in a great vain of form of late as well.
Amassing three goals and three assists in League One to date, the experienced number 14 proved to be tricky for the visitors from Bristol to contain, with five key passes credited to Anderson come the end of the clash.
Davies and Co will be delighted they managed to tie Anderson down on a new deal until 2026 in October, therefore, but he could soon have a rival down the right flank in this potential new buy.
Birmingham could land Anderson rival
As per a recent report from late last week, Birmingham are plotting a sensational loan move for former academy product Nathan Redmond this coming January.
Plagued by injuries all of this season so far, this could also act as a confidence-boosting move for the ageing 31-year-old, who hasn’t been able to be present for one single game for Scott Parker’s Burnley during the 2024/25 campaign so far off the back of his constant presence in the Turf Moor treatment room.
After all, if Davies’ men can get Redmond back to his best away from these unfortunate injury issues piling up, he would be a statement coup for League One and an upgrade on Anderson.
Only a couple of campaigns back, the 5 foot 8 winger would impressively pick up 12 total goal contributions for Beskitas after venturing out to Turkey, having once also been a regular in many a Premier League side past his early footballing education at Birmingham.
Club played for
Games played
Goals scored
Assists
Burnley
15
0
0
Besiktas
25
6
6
Southampton
232
30
27
Norwich City
123
13
20
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Looking at the table above, Redmond would also amass a weighty 90 goal contributions playing for both Norwich and Southampton, with Ralph Hassenhuttl even labelling the tricky attacker as “special” when the pair worked together at St. Mary’s.
Whilst his woes at Burnley will make the Blues feel somewhat cautious about picking back up their ex-star, his ability to also play down the left as well as the right will make him an even more worthwhile asset to have around, with the 31-year-old perhaps linking up with Stansfield to devastating effect if he can find his mojo again.
Davies has managed to get the maximum out of the more seasoned heads in this squad – with seven league goals bagged from 31-year-old Alfie May as a focal point in attack – and Redmond will hope the Birmingham manager can have the same impact on him if a move is finalised.
The one-time England senior international could also feel there’s unfinished business for him at St. Andrew’s, with Birmingham’s promotion chances no doubt boosted by their former homegrown ace rejoining.
Cost £0: Birmingham's "dangerous" ace has become as important as Stansfield
This Birmingham City attacker has turned into a surprise star.
Angel City sporting director Mark Parsons has admitted the club will not have a new head coach June, despite firing Becki Tweed way back in December.
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Angel City sacked head coach Tweed in December
New NWSL season begins this week
But ACFC won't have replacement until June
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Angel City parted ways with Tweed before the end of 2024, after a disappointing NWSL season which saw the club finish 12th in a 14-team league. A month later, ACFC hired Parsons, who won everything possible in his five-and-a-half-year stint with the Portland Thorns, but to be the sporting director rather than the coach.
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Angel City FC
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The new NWSL season begins this weekend, when the Orlando Pride face the Washington Spirit in the curtain-rising Challenge Cup. On March 16, Angel City will then begin its regular season campaign at home to the San Diego Wave, its big California rivals. However, it will do so under the interim charge of Sam Laity – an arrangement that Parsons says will continue until June.
WHAT PARSONS SAID
Speaking to media this week, Parsons said: :First of all, I want to share that Sam Laity is our interim head coach and we believe he will be our interim head coach until June. That's the current reality of our head coach process. Our head coach process is getting to a point where it is getting clearer, but it's still not clear when the head coach could be joining us at Angel City.
"The journey that we're on and the way the process is looking right now, the head coach won't be here at the beginning of March, like I previously shared was one option. The availability of the candidates that are left in the process are all available in June, and in the next few weeks, I hope to be able to give a more concrete update.
"While we're very committed to finding the best person, the only reason we're in a position to be able to do this is because we've got someone like Sam Laity, who's been in this league for over 12 years as an assistant coach and as a head coach leading our team and organization on the field right now. He's doing a tremendous job. We're very happy and grateful for the way that he has conducted himself and continues to lead our group."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Parsons' comments about candidates being available in June tie in with one rumour that has been doing the rounds in England, suggesting that Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor could be a target. The Women's Super League season runs until May and so any move would likely come after its conclusion, although Taylor squashed the rumours when asked about them in January, having only last year signed a contract extension until 2027.
“I’ve nothing to comment on in terms of the speculation," he said. "I think for me, I signed the contract around this time last year, really happy at the club, really grateful to the club for many, many years being here as a player and as a coach. I think we’ve got work to do here for sure. I’m excited about the challenge ahead. I’m excited about where we can potentially move things. Of course, there’s a lot of hard work still to be done, so I’m happy where I am."
South Africa’s team of “good cricketers without superstars” has to band together one final time to deny India the chance to make history, and it’s not going to be easy. That’s Lungi Ngidi’s assessment of a series that will come down to a couple of sessions on the penultimate day of the third Test and has made for gripping viewing throughout.”We are not going in there with a team of superstars,” Ngidi said. “We’ve got good cricketers and good cricketing brains, and it’s always a team effort. There are going to be moments where someone is going to have to put up their hand. If someone is not taking wickets, you make sure you keep the runs down, and if it’s your day, you make sure you cash in.”Related
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Ngidi was referring to a question about his own performance in the second session of the third day when he took three wickets in six overs to reduce India from 152 for 4 to 170 for 7. Ngidi started by removing Virat Kohli, who had batted for more than three hours and faced 143 balls for 29 runs, and then had R Ashwin and Shardul Thakur caught off loose strokes, but more notable than the names, it was the manner in which he took his wickets. After making his name as the kind of bowler who hits the deck hard, Ngidi operated completely differently at Newlands by pitching it up and finding swing. He listed this as one of his best series, especially “against this calibre of players” and despite it being “testing at times.”Though bowlers appear to have had it easier than batters in this series, Ngidi explained that it has been challenging for seamers to get their lengths right on surfaces that have not been entirely consistent in bounce. “The ball has been doing something the entire Test series,” he said. “There are patches on the wicket where if you hit it, it does something a little more than others. And we could see, with patience, guys could score hundreds out there, there have been two 70s already, so with the right application, there are runs in the wicket. As a bowler, if you hit the right areas, there are wickets as well.”The match won’t last five days – and if you take into account the rain-affected day in Centurion, none of the Tests has – but Ngidi praised the surfaces, especially this Newlands one. “It’s a good cricketing wicket. Everyone is in the game. It’s pretty evenly matched out.”He sees the match hinging on whether Keegan Petersen will find someone to post a half-century stand with or whether South Africa’s middle order will fold against the relentless Indian pace attack. “If we were to have a 60-run partnership upfront tomorrow morning, that puts us in a good position. If they were to take early wickets, that shifts it to them. It’s perfectly poised at the moment.”India know that too. Kohli was heard on the stump microphone reminding both his team and South Africa how much was at stake. “Just relax guys,” he told Dean Elgar and Petersen. “I can hear your heartbeat.”That’s understandable. As Elgar said before the match, this is South Africa’s biggest Test in the last decade and winning it could complete what has been a very slow turnaround from losing to Sri Lanka at home three summers ago and slipping to No. 8 in the rankings. There’s enormous expectation, at home, and from far away. For instance, in Guyana, South Africa’s Under-19 players, who are gearing up for their World Cup campaign, are keeping an eye. Their captain George van Heerden said they’re unlikely to wake up in the middle of the night to watch but are prepared to find out the results as soon as possible. “The management team have all got their laptops out and we are all watching from there,” he said at a press conference.India, meanwhile, will be eyeing their first Test series win in South Africa. On their last tour here, they won the final Test in Johannesburg. That South African team had superstars. This one, in Ngidi’s words, just believes that “everyone has got to perform when they are asked to”.