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Estevao Won’t Be Available For Newcastle Clash
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Estevao Willian will miss this weekend’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United.
Chelsea’s route into the Carabao Cup semi-finals continued without the 18-year-old, as the Blues claimed a 3-1 victory away at League One side Cardiff City without including him in the matchday squad.
In a chat with the club’s website, Maresca confirmed the setback but was unable to offer a timeline for Estevao’s return, a concern with three fixtures scheduled in the next ten days.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Simon Sad Over Fredrick’s Absence
“He had a small problem, a muscle problem.
“He won’t be available for Newcastle, and we’ll see for the next one.”
Since arriving in the capital from Palmeiras during the summer, the teenager has caught the eye, registering five goals and one assist in 21 games.
However, Enzo Maresca has remained cautious in his use, limiting the winger to brief substitute appearances in recent weeks.
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The Ashes LIVE: England get a win out of huge ‘cheating’ controversy surrounding Adelaide hero Alex Carey
Newcastle United teenager Lewis Miley’s stoppage-time header sealed a 2-1 win over Fulham to send the holders into the Carabao Cup semi-finals, Sky Sport reports.
The 19-year-old started the game out of position, filling in at right-back amid a raft of injuries for Eddie Howe, but he was in the right place to head in Sandro Tonali’s corner in the 92nd minute to make it nine wins in a row in this competition for Newcastle.
St James’ Park was nervous for much of the game after Sunday’s disastrous derby defeat at Sunderland but the anxiety was momentarily lifted by Yoane Wissa opening his Newcastle account just 10 minutes into his first start with a tap in from close-range.
Also Read: Carabao Cup: Man City Clinch Semi-Final After 2-0 Win Vs Brentford
However, Fulham hit back quickly, equalising six minutes later through Sasa Lukic to unsettle Newcastle, who left the midfielder completely unmarked in the box to header in from Antonee Robinson’s cross.
Penalties loomed as Fulham’s deputy goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte produced a fine save to deny Miley in stoppage time only for the Newcastle academy graduate to glance in a header from the resulting corner and put his side into the semi-finals.
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From Gaelic football to NFL hero! Saints kicker Charlie Smyth on whirlwind New Orleans rise after game-winning field goal vs Panthers
In the midst of a dark season of rebuilding for the New Orleans Saints, kicker Charlie Smyth has emerged as a beacon of light.
The pride of County Down in Northern Ireland, Smyth worked his way up through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) and into the league.
Smyth, who previously played as a Gaelic footballer for club side Mayobridge before eventually making a 2023 debut with the Down county football team, spent years grinding away to earn himself a spot on an NFL roster.
At the end of November, after fighting through the practice squad, Smyth was elevated to the active roster and made his NFL debut.
Last week, Smyth knocked through a 47-yard game-winning field goal to beat the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers – reaching the peak of his career so far.
In the locker room afterward, Smyth received a game ball and broke the team down as they all chanted his name before the team went off to celebrate their fourth win of the season.
Irishman Charlie Smyth has been a revelation for a rebuilding New Orleans Saints team
After months of training and working his way through the practice squad, Smyth broke into the Saints’ active roster this year – making his debut with the team in November
It all led to this past week: when Smyth knocked through a game-winning field goal
‘It was a really cool moment,’ Smyth said, reflecting on the biggest moment of his career so far. ‘You see that around the league, the head coaches breaking the teams down. You always see whatever position it is or whatever player it is, getting the last game ball and they get to break the team down.
‘I always imagine it would be pretty cool to be in that situation, right? But yeah, I just wanted to make sure that in that moment that I’m giving credit to all my teammates as well, because it’s not just the kick… it’s a whole team effort. Because everybody else did their job, then that allowed me to go out and hit the kick.’
After his third game and his first game-winner, there are few cities better in the country to go out and celebrate than New Orleans. But Smyth opted for something more subtle.
‘You might think that back home, we go to the pub and we’ll drown ourselves in beer or whatever,’ Smyth joked. But instead, ‘I just went and got some pizzas with my mom, sister, and girlfriend, and we had a few beers as well. Just went back to my apartment, just chilled, but just really soaking it in.
‘I was glad we were able to just… The four of us together. I wish my dad could have been there as well, but he’s tied up with work at the minute. It was just a really cool evening and just glad to get to celebrate with those you’re closest to.’
In that time since, Smyth has been able to relive the final moments leading up to the game-winning kick in his head.
‘I remember it was maybe three or four minutes left in the fourth quarter,’ he recalled.
‘And I was just talking to our snapper, Zach Wood, and Kai Kroeger, he’s our punter and also holds the field goals. … I said, “I have a feeling we’re going to have a game winning opportunity here”. And I just started laughing to Zach and Kai.
Smyth has heaped praise on his teammates: ‘Everybody else did their job, then that allowed me to go out and hit the kick’
The County Down native and former Gaelic footballer has no fear in front of 70,000 people
‘I was like, “This is what we want, isn’t it?” I just remember smiling as [Saints quarterback Tyler Shough] was driving up the field with the offense. And I just felt like I was for whatever opportunity that was going to arise. … It’s what you come over here to do, right? You come over here and try and help your team.
‘But it’s those moments where you’re sleeping at night and you’re thinking, Wouldn’t it be cool to have a game winning attempt? And thankfully, we got the opportunity on Sunday.’
While Smyth’s story is inspiring, it also comes with some degree of peril. Kickers in the NFL are being given a shorter and shorter leash as the years progress and many teams have started multiple players at that position this year.
The Giants, for example, have used three kickers – including one of Smyth’s countrymen, Jude McAtamney – and have yet to settle on one.
But Smyth is unflappable: ‘I wasn’t thinking, “Oh, there’s 70,000 people here. What if I miss?” It’s not like that. It’s just go out and just own what you’ve been doing and trying to just make the most any moment you got.’
Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has backed Victor Osimhen to become captain of the team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Recall that William Troost-Ekong, who was Super Eagles captain, recently announced his retirement from international football.
However, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been widely tipped to take up the captaincy role vacated by Troost-Ekong.
But Ighalo believes Osimhen is the right player to become captain of the Super Eagles because Eric Chelle’s men will listen to him.
“There are several players ahead of Osimhen (as senior players), but now Osimhen is doing well and he has the balls to demand what the team wants,” Ighalo said in an speaking to former Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh.
“Ndidi is not the talking type, he is a very calm guy, but Osimhen is outspoken, he is going to speak on behalf of the team, he is going to ginger the boys, he’s going to fight for the boys, he will speak to any body he needs to speak to to make sure they are okay.
“The captain job is not easy because your neck in on the line, because whatever the boys demand it’s you that will put it forward to the NFF.
“And if NFF want to come for anybody, they are coming for you because you are the captain.
“With Osimhen, he will speak and nothing can happen because he’s the biggest player in the team, so they won’t want to look down on him, they will listen to him because he’s doing well.”
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Manchester City vs Brentford – Carabao Cup LIVE: The Bees aim to upset at the Etihad to book their spot in the semi-final plus updates from Newcastle vs Fulham
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Manchester City vs Brentford – Carabao Cup LIVE: The Bees aim to upset at the Etihad to book their spot in the semi-final plus updates from Newcastle vs Fulham
Inter Miami have confirmed that star forward Luis Suárez has signed a new contract, keeping the Uruguayan striker at the club until the end of the 2026 Major League Soccer season.
Luis Suárez, who joined Inter Miami ahead of the 2024 campaign, has been pivotal in the club’s recent success.
Suárez continued his rich form in 2025 after a record-breaking 2024 season, in which he helped the team claim its first Supporters’ Shield and set the MLS single-season points record.
He played 50 matches across all competitions, scoring 17 goals and providing 17 assists, as Inter Miami lifted both the Eastern Conference Championship and the MLS Cup. The forward also starred internationally, reaching the Round of 16 at the revamped FIFA Club World Cup and the semifinals of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Suárez’s influence extends beyond statistics. “His experience and leadership have been crucial to our success,” the club said in an official statement. “Luis is not just a goal scorer; he is a talisman who inspires those around him both on and off the pitch.”
Since arriving in Miami, Suárez has amassed 42 goals and 30 assists in 87 appearances, making him the second-highest scorer in club history. Alongside fellow star Lionel Messi, he has elevated Inter Miami into one of MLS’s most formidable teams, combining world-class talent with an unyielding work ethic.
Before his move to the United States, Suárez enjoyed a glittering career in Europe and South America. He lifted the UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, five LaLiga titles, four Copa del Rey trophies, and numerous other honours.
Internationally, he led Uruguay to Copa América glory in 2011, retiring as the nation’s top scorer with 69 goals and the second-most capped player at 161 appearances.
Individually, Suárez’s career is studded with accolades. He has been the top scorer in seven competitions, including LaLiga, the English Premier League, Eredivisie, and the FIFA Club World Cup, earning European Golden Shoes for his 2013-14 and 2015-16 league performances.
He has also won awards such as Dutch Footballer of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season, FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball, and Trofeo Alfredo di Stéfano.
Arsenal are showing their determination to sign Kenan Yıldız from Juventus ahead of the January transfer window.
As reported by TouchlineX on Wednesday, the Arsenal board has told manager Mikel Arteta he needs to sell one of his attackers to make Yıldız’s signing happen.
The Gunners chiefs are keen to bolster Arteta’s squad in the second half of the season when the January transfer window opens.
The Premier League North London club are keen to win the English top-flight league this season, having finished in second position in the last three seasons.
This season, Arsenal is currently on top of the Premier League table with two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City.
Arteta’s side will face Everton in their next Premier League fixture this weekend.
Moses Simon has lamented Benjamin Fredrick’s absence for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, reports Compleresports.com.
Fredrick sustained a knee injury in training with his Belgian club Dender last month.
The former Flying Eagles defender will only return to action in the new year.
The 20-year-old has established himself as a key player for the Super Eagles since making his debut against Jamaica in May.
Read Also:Friendly: Onuachu Reflects On Super Eagles’ Defeat To Egypt
Simon, who runs the Simoiben Academy, which discovered, developed and mentored Fredrick said it’s disappointing the player won’t be in Morocco.
“It is very emotional for me,” Simon told ESPN.
“It is an unbelievable big dream to play with the young one you helped to the top. The feeling is something else. It is like a father and son playing alongside each other.
“It is a thing of joy for me. I’m proud of myself, I’m proud of what I’m doing and I’m proud of the people around that encourage me and assist me also. But I am sad that he will not be here. Not because I just want us to play together, but because he will help us if he was here.”
By Adeboye Amosu
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Chelsea Confidential: How club chiefs were blindsided by Enzo Maresca’s outburst, what it means for end-of-season review into his future, Moises Caicedo suspension latest and the youth star headed for the exit door
Chelsea did not see Enzo Maresca’s post-Everton outburst coming and even five days on, confusion still surrounds what prompted the 45-year-old Italian to say what he said.
By now you probably know it word for word, but as a reminder, Maresca claimed he had endured the ‘worst 48 hours since I joined the club because people didn’t support me and the team’.
Those comments, along with his refusal to clarify them, have left some at the club scratching their heads as to what he was trying to achieve.
When asked after Tuesday’s Carabao Cup win over Cardiff City whether he had spoken to any of his bosses, Maresca said he had not. However, Confidential understands he has spoken with members of Chelsea’s sporting directorship team since the Everton victory.
Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart, Joe Shields and Sam Jewell have been at Cobham as usual and were also in Cardiff on Tuesday, both at the team’s hotel base during the day and at the stadium on the night, which included a visit to the away changing room after full time.
It is assumed that Maresca can only have been referring to the club’s owners – Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, neither of whom are currently in the country – when he said he had not yet spoken with his superiors. Eghbali is a regular at games and hands on as an owner and so, eventually, will speak with Maresca in person.
Enzo Maresca delivered an extraordinary outburst in his post-Everton press conference, saying he had endured the ‘worst 48 hours since I joined the club’
The press conference theatrics aside, Maresca has been behaving normally, working diligently and preparing for the challenge of Newcastle in the Premier League
The press conference theatrics aside, Maresca is believed to have been behaving normally, still working diligently and coaching the squad daily and preparing the players for the challenge of Newcastle away in the Premier League.
Right now, Chelsea simply want to get back to normality after an abnormal week and for the focus to return to the football. As we approach the turn of the year, there remains plenty to play for.
They are fourth in the Premier League, still within touching distance of the Champions League’s top eight, and now into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with the FA Cup to follow.
There is no desire to suddenly deviate from the original plan to see through this campaign with Maresca and then hold a collective review to assess their two seasons together. Only an extraordinary fallout would force the club into considering otherwise.
Even then, that summer review is not necessarily a case of deciding whether they should stick or twist with Maresca. It is considered more of an opportunity to look at where they can improve overall, what has worked over the last two years and what they could be doing better.
It is worth remembering this is Maresca’s first-ever second season as a head coach and the feeling is that he has done a fine job up to now, the odd blip hardly being seen as unacceptable when they are a young side getting to grips with playing three games per week.
NOT THE FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE FAUX PAS…
Chelsea higher-ups taking note of what is said in press conferences should hardly constitute surprising news. It would be more remarkable if they weren’t interested in what messages their head coach was sending out of the club.
Maresca has raised eyebrows with other remarks since arriving at Chelsea, which is perhaps inevitable given how much the modern-day manager speaks. For example, his suggestion that Liverpool might be ‘impossible to catch’ also took some by surprise when he made that prediction in September.
CAICEDO SUSPENDED, EFL CONFIRM
There was a little confusion as to whether Moises Caicedo would indeed be suspended for the first leg of the Carabao Cup’s semi-finals after his yellow card against Cardiff on Tuesday night.
Having checked with the EFL, Caicedo will infact miss that match. The cautions are not expunged until after the completion of the quarter-final stage, and Chelsea’s midfielder is now on two in this season’s competition, having also received a booking against Wolves.
Both cards were unnecessary. At Wolves, he complained too aggressively towards the referee. And at Cardiff, he sarcastically applauded the ref.
Moises Caicedo will be suspended for the first leg of the Carabao Cup’s semi-finals after his yellow card against Cardiff on Tuesday night
21-YEAR-OLD TO LEAVE IN JANUARY
Jimi Tauriainen is set to leave Chelsea in January with early interest already arriving from Europe, including clubs in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
The 21-year-old, born in Helsinki, Finland, is contracted until the summer of 2026. The Blues also have the option of an additional year as a safety net. Tauriainen made his Premier League debut for Chelsea against Tottenham in May 2024, but an ACL injury suffered two months later robbed the promising youngster of a year of his career.
He wrote on Instagram in July: ‘360 days. One knee injury. Countless hours of rehab, pain, doubt – but also belief, determination, and hope. Grateful to be finally back.’ Tauriainen has since been appearing for Chelsea’s development side.
FASHION POLICE TIME…
Right, it’s been a rather serious five days surrounding Chelsea, hasn’t it? So let’s have some fun to finish.
Maresca rocks a questionable skinny jean look as his Chelsea team take on Brentford in September
Seeing as there was the odd social media debate over how Maresca had suddenly stopped wearing his club tracksuit for a few games (Bournemouth, Atalanta and Everton) we can reveal it’s not the first time he’s gone for his own clobber!
Against Brentford and Manchester United, both in September, he ditched the club tracky.
For United he went for the black suit, black raincoat, black shoes look and against Brentford it was a cardigan coat, Nike trainers and a pair of questionable skinny jeans.
Confidential will keep an eye out for any more fashion faux pas!
FIFA has confirmed a historic financial package of $727 million for the 2026 World Cup, marking the biggest investment in the tournament’s history.
The decision was taken on December 17 when the FIFA Council met in Doha ahead of the Intercontinental Cup finals. Officials also discussed broader issues around the development and governance of youth football.
Following the positive momentum generated by the World Cup finals draw in Washington, D.C. on December 5, 2025, the council approved the unprecedented financial contribution in support of the expanded 48-team tournament.
Of the total sum, $655 million will be distributed as prize money, representing a 50 per cent increase on the previous edition.
The champions of the 2026 World Cup will walk away with $50 million, while the runners-up will earn $33 million.
Teams finishing third and fourth will receive $29 million and $27 million respectively. Those placed between fifth and eighth will collect $19 million, with sides ranked ninth to sixteenth earning $15 million.
Teams finishing from seventeenth to thirty-second will be paid $11 million, while those exiting in positions thirty-third to forty-eighth will still receive $9 million.
Beyond performance-related rewards, every participating nation will be handed $1.5 million in preparation costs.
This ensures that all member associations taking part are guaranteed a minimum of $10.5 million from the competition.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the new figures reflect the organisation’s commitment to reinvesting World Cup revenues into the sport worldwide.