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Celtic did not opt to splash the cash on any big-money signings to bolster Brendan Rodgers' squad when he returned to Glasgow last summer.

They spent moderately on a number of additions across the board, rather than going all-out on one or two names, and the £9m fee once paid for Odsonne Edouard from PSG remains the club-record signing.

The Hoops have not always had the best of luck in the transfer market when they have decided to open the purse strings to make a statement signing.

One big-money addition that turned out to be a waste of money was Brazilian centre-back Rafael Scheidt, who arrived at Parkhead in the summer of 1999.

How much Celtic paid for Rafael Scheidt

Management duo John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish opted to push the boat out to bring the Gremio star in for a reported fee of £5m ahead of the 1999/00 season.

He had been capped three times by Brazil at senior level earlier that year, which suggested that the central defender had been in fantastic form in his home country.

His performances for Gremio in the Serie A and the Libertadores had seemingly been good enough to earn him international recognition for one of the biggest footballing nations on the planet, as they had won the World Cup in 1994 and went on to win it in 2002.

It was later revealed that Dalglish had recommended the signing to Barnes after watching 'impressive' video footage of the colossus, whilst the former England international had never watched the player live before the deal was sanctioned.

This, on paper, was not a great start to his career with the Scottish giants as he had been signed by two coaches who had not seen him play extensively, which meant that they did not know the ins and outs of his style on the pitch, and that turned out to be a key mistake.

Rafael Scheidt's time with Celtic

The Brazil international turned out to be a nightmare signing for the Hoops and £5m, plus his undisclosed wages, that was wasted down the drain due to his lack of impact on the pitch.

Scheidt suffered from appendicitis before his debut for the club and was then hit with a serious knee injury after a collision with a teammate in training, which hampered his progress in Scotland.

Speaking to The Celtic Way in 2022, the defender revealed that he did not "like" the style of Scottish football, due to the overuse of long balls and physicality, and a lack of touches on the ball for him in matches.

Martin O'Neill came in after his spells with Barnes and Dalglish and Scheidt revealed that the manager told him to change his style of play or he would not play for Celtic, and added that the boss claimed the centre-back was not good enough for Scottish football – a claim he refutes.

The Brazilian titan was then sent out on loan to Corinthians, Atlético-MG, and Botafogo over multiple seasons before leaving Parkhead on a free transfer in the summer of 2004.

Therefore, Celtic had a nightmare with the £5m signing as they wasted that money down the drain on a player the coaches had not seen live, who then went on to struggle with the style of Scottish football – which could have been predicted had they spent more time watching him in the flesh – before leaving for nothing.

Everton's financial situation has been well-documented in recent months, especially when they've constantly been at the centre of attention of multiple breaches of the Premier League's PSR rules.

Overspending on poor-quality players and mismanagement of contracts has been the main reason why the club has struggled to comply with the confines of the regulations, with the Toffees desperately needing to change their ways.

In recent windows, the club have tried to combat the losses, selling high-profile players such as Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United for £45m and targeting free transfers to fill the voids left by the outgoing players.

Ashley Young was one of the signings made by current boss Sean Dyche, providing vital experience and key squad depth in a season where the club were faced with the prospect of relegation to the Championship.

He's proven to be an astute addition, featuring 30 times in the Premier League this season, despite turning 39 in a couple of months.

The former Manchester United talent has been a solid addition, however, the club haven't quite had the same fortune when signing other players who have featured for the Red Devils in years gone by…

Morgan Schneiderlin's stats at Everton

Midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin arrived at Everton back in 2017 for a fee in the region of £24m, with the former Southampton man tasked with propelling the club towards a European competition.

Despite a disappointing spell at Manchester United – where he scored just once in 47 appearances – Schneiderlin had all the qualities to thrive at Goodison, with his ball-winning abilities potentially completing Ronald Koeman's midfield, having been described as good enough to play in "any of the top clubs in the league" by pundit Gary Neville.

However, the Frenchman failed to hit the heights many expected him to. He only featured 88 times for the Toffees over his four years at the club, averaging 22 appearances a season in all competitions – a measly return for such a high-profile addition.

Schneiderlin's stats at Everton

Season

Games

Minutes played

2016/17

14

1,059'

2017/18

40

2,095'

2018/19

16

916'

2019/20

18

1,184'

Stats via Transfermarkt

He didn't live up to the price tag the club forked out for his signature, leaving Merseyside for a lowly £2m to join French side Nice, less than four years after his move to Goodison.

Morgan Schneiderlin's market value in 2024

Although he was seen as a long-term signing, the move was a complete disaster for the club and player, with the "terrible" 34-year-old, as dubbed by journalist Tom McDermott during his time at United, now featuring for AE Kifisias in the Greek top division.

He's seen a huge drop in his market value, with Schneiderlin now only worth £340k, as per Transfermarkt – a drop of over £23m from the fee the Toffees paid for him nearly seven years ago.

His subsequent value is now less than the experienced Young, who still boasts a figure of £515k despite being over four years older than the former Saints midfielder.

The Toffees' financial woes can be seen in the Schneiderlin deal. Signing a player for such a high fee and selling him for next to nothing is always a recipe for disaster.

He's undoubtedly going to go down as one of the worst deals in the club's history, with the hierarchy needing to remember the deal for the Frenchman to avoid any calamities in the market going forward.

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He made the club a huge profit when he departed Goodison Park.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 15, 2024

Nottingham Forest failed to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League after falling to a 3-1 defeat away at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening.

The Reds fell behind after an own goal from Brazilian centre-back Murillo before Chris Wood made it four goals in as many games with a brilliant instinctive finish after great work from Anthony Elanga and Neco Williams down the right-hand side.

However, crushing strikes from Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro secured three points for Ange Postecoglou's side, with Forest still lingering dangerously close to the relegation zone – the club only above Luton Town on goal difference with six games to go.

The game in north London was a good opportunity for Nuno Espírito Santo's side to re-establish their gap above the drop zone, but they failed to do so, with one player in particular having a disappointing game.

Ryan Yates' stats against Tottenham

After an unchanged side from the victory over Fulham last Tuesday, midfielder Ryan Yates took the armband and led the Reds out looking to claim all three points.

The Forest academy graduate was given the task of man-marking attacking midfielder James Maddison, with Yates' relentless pressing style a potential way to combat the England international.

However, the 26-year-old was run ragged by the former Leicester City man, with the Reds midfielder committing four fouls within the first 15 minutes and picking up a yellow card for his troubles.

Yates lost seven out of his nine duels – the Forest man unsuccessful in 78% of the duels he contested – before committing a further foul, taking his tally to five throughout his display.

He was also dribbled past once, with Yates often being bypassed by the play and looking out of his depth during the game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Minutes played

81

Fouls committed

5

Duels lost

7

Dribbled past

1

Shots

1

Passes

28/32 (88%)

Undoubtedly, the midfielder plays with his heart on his sleeve and is committed to succeeding for his boyhood club, but today was another example that the 26-year-old isn't technically up to the demands of the Premier League.

He was given a rating of 5.5/10 by Nottinghamshire Live Forest correspondent Sarah Clapson, with the midfielder failing to get a hold of the in the middle of the park.

Forest play again in less than seven days and Nuno should look to replace Yates with another member of the Reds squad who looked more suited to his system after coming off the bench during the weekend's defeat.

The man to replace Yates going forward

The Reds have some excellent options in the middle of midfield, with Nicolas Dominguez more than deserving of another run in the starting lineup.

The Argentinian came on in the 68th minute and completed all 15 of the passes he attempted, whilst winning 100% of the duels he contested after coming on.

Dominguez was also a threat as the Reds tried to claw back the two-goal deficit, the 25-year-old also managing to get a shot on target with the former Bologna man a nuisance at both ends after his introduction.

He was harshly dropped after the Brighton defeat, with the Argentinian coming off the bench in the last four games. Dominguez did have a solid partnership alongside Brazilian Danilo, meaning Nuno needs to play the duo together against Wolves at the City Ground on Saturday afternoon.

Paul Stirling, the Ireland top-order batsman, has joined Northamptonshire for part of the T20 Blast as an overseas player, despite the fact he is a British passport-holder and was born in Belfast.He will provide cover for Kieron Pollard, who will play eight games for Northants in the middle of their campaign, filling the club’s second overseas slot. Faheem Ashraf, the Pakistan allrounder, is the primary overseas player, and will be available until the end of the Blast’s group stages.ALSO READ: Stirling to leave Middlesex after committing to IrelandStirling has become the second Ireland player to sign a contract in county cricket as an overseas player, after Boyd Rankin’s brief stint at Derbyshire last season.An ECB rule change meant that Irishmen, who had previously qualified as local players in county cricket, would no longer be able to play as non-overseas players following Ireland’s ascent to Test status in 2017. Those who already held county deals were given a grace period which ran until the end of the 2019 season.Rankin’s deal last year was the first overseas contract signed by an Ireland international – he was a new registration, so did not fall under the grace period – while Stuart Poynter and Tim Murtagh have both ended their international careers in order to extend their stays at Durham and Middlesex respectively.But with a view to extending his international career, Stirling left Middlesex in September, telling the that he found his situation “baffling”, but that he had no intentions to challenge the ruling legally.”The powers that be have made the decision to change the regulations but I can see it is a strange scenario when you are born British and have entitlement to work as a local in your own country, so I can see why it could be challenged and it would be interesting to see how far it would go if someone did challenge it,” Stirling said.”It is an ECB rule and I can understand it. Cricket Ireland have Test status and if you want to play Test cricket for Ireland then why should the ECB let someone play in their local tournaments if they are not looking to play for England?”I get it from their point of view but it is slightly more complicated than that in our case. Middlesex has been my home for so long so it does feel baffling to have to go but hopefully I will be able to play in some capacity in the future.”David Ripley, Northants’ head coach, said: “Paul brings great experience, skill, and firepower to our line-up. He has a reputation as a great team man and we are looking forward to welcoming him into our dressing room.”He’ll dovetail with Pollard and be available down the road should we qualify for the quarters and beyond. A special thanks to Cricket Ireland for their assistance in allowing Paul to play a role for us.””I’m thrilled to be playing for the Steelbacks in this year’s Blast, “Stirling said. “It’s a good wicket and the boundaries are small so I’m excited to entertain the people of Northampton.”I know a few of the guys very well and in Rosso [Adam Rossington] and Cobby [Josh Cobb] they have good leaders as captains at the club. I would like to thank David Ripley for showing faith in me and I’m hoping we can win the trophy come September.”

The Australia side that India beat in 2018-19 was without Steven Smith and David Warner

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Dec-2019

Last year, India completed a historic 2-1 triumph in Australia, their first-ever Test series victory in the country. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly believes India will face an even bigger challenge when they go back down under in 2020-21 for a four-Test series against a “full-strength” Australia side.Back in 2018-19, the hosts were without two key batsmen in Steven Smith and David Warner, who were serving year-long bans for their role in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. With both Smith and Warner back in action, a “different Australia”, according to Ganguly, awaits India next year.Following the end of the 2019-21 World Test Championship cycle, India are also set to tour England (2021) and South Africa (2021-22). Ganguly wants India to win Test series on those tours as well.”They beat Australia in 2018. But I will still expect to win in South Africa and England,” Ganguly told . “And I think, they are going back to Australia next year. That’s going to be a bigger challenge and I am sure with the standards that Virat [Kohli] sets for himself and the others, he will know at the back of his mind that the 2018 Australia team was not the best Australian team of this generation. And what he is going to face next year, which is not very far away, is going to be a different Australia.”The enormity of the challenge notwithstanding, Ganguly was confident Indian have the ability to beat Australia in their backyard once more.”The full-strength Australia are a strong Australia,” Ganguly said. “They (India) have the team to beat them. They will just have to believe and get everything right to beat them. That’s what I am looking for.”When I became a captain, one of our aims was to compete with the best. And I remember, 2003 in Australia against that Australia, we were outstanding. And this team has the potential to do it. They have proper fast bowlers, they have spinners, they have a champion in Virat Kohli as a batsman.”Members of the Indian team celebrate after winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy•Getty Images

As for the shorter formats, Ganguly said he would discuss with Kohli, head coach Ravi Shastri, and the other players, the potential causes – mental or otherwise – for India’s defeats in crunch matches of world tournaments in the recent past. Under Kohli, India’s defeat to Pakistan in the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy was bookended by eliminations in the semi-finals of the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2019 ODI World Cup.”As I said, it’s a very strong team. But then you have to get past the semi-final,” Ganguly said. “Like in this World Cup, they played so well but lost to New Zealand one day. This is something that they will have to address. At some stage, we will speak to Virat, Ravi and then the players. You need to find a way to get past that hurdle in the big game. Whether it’s a mental hurdle or whatever, they will do that. I still expect them to win in England and South Africa in Test matches, which they need to do to be a good side.”Ganguly rated Kohli’s leadership skills highly, but wasn’t willing to compare him with past India captains.”Very good (Kohli’s captaincy is),” Ganguly said. “But I don’t think you can judge captains because the teams were different, the strengths were different. I don’t think you can compare captains of any era with the captains of other eras. He is a fantastic cricketer, a fantastic person. Yes, he may make mistakes, he may say something, everybody does.”I believe, as a human being, you carry what you do off the field to the field. He is a very solid person off the field. A lot of things rest on his shoulders in India.”When India travel to Australia, it won’t be easy. It will not be as easy as in 2018. I don’t know whether I will still be board president then but I will be looking forward to Virat beating this Australian team in 2020 when they get there after the T20 World Cup.”

It’s fair to say that Manchester United’s season has been filled with disruption, with injuries in particular giving Erik ten Hag a headache.

The Red Devils started the campaign with four left-backs in the squad, but as of right now, the boss doesn’t have an available left-back to choose from.

Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are injured and set to miss most of the season, if not all of it, while Sergio Reguilon returned to Tottenham Hotspur on loan and Alvaro Fernandez left for Benfica in January.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise to see that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are looking to sign a new left-back ahead of the summer.

Man Utd’s search for a new left-back

According to a report from FootballTransfers, the Red Devils are tracking Samuel Iling-Junior prior to a potential summer move.

The 20-year-old Englishman currently plays in Italy for Juventus; however, his game time has been limited, starting just twice in Serie A.

Not only will the lack of minutes play into United’s hands, but also the fact that his contract will expire in 2025.

Iling-Junior’s profile and potential fit the bill of what Ratcliffe will look for in his new signings, and he could be the perfect option to secure the left-back role for the future.

How Iling-Junior can supercharge Marcus Rashford

Last season, Marcus Rashford enjoyed his most productive Premier League campaign to date, netting an impressive 17 goals and registering five assists in 32 starts.

Although Rashford’s 2023/24 campaign hasn’t exactly been anywhere near as productive as last term, he’s still been a huge threat, scoring eight goals and providing six assists across all competitions.

Nevertheless, the potential signing of Iling-Junior could see the United number ten’s numbers skyrocket once again, with his profile and skillset being complimentary.

As already mentioned, the youngster hasn’t been trusted with a role in the starting lineup yet, as shown by his average of 28 minutes per game this season, but he’s certainly impressed when given a chance.

As you can see by the table below showcasing Iling-Junior’s stats from his most recent game against Genoa, the number 17 has the perfect profile for a modern-day full-back, which is having the ability to be strong both going forward and defensively.

Minutes

31

Tackles

2

Duels won

3/3

xA

0.22

Hit woodwork

1

Pass accuracy

88%

Key passes

2

The England U-21 international is the definition of an attacking full-back, which is exactly how he could help get the best out of Rashford.

It certainly seems that Iling-Junior’s first thought is to attack, using his incredible ball-carrying ability to get the team up the pitch quickly while also providing an overlapping run to give the winger room to cut inside.

This suits Rashford’s strengths perfectly, with the England international at his best when given room to either create or strike the ball from range after drifting inwards from out wide.

What will also aid the 26-year-old, is the former Chelsea academy star’s ability to find the back of the net himself and create, as shown by his two goals for the England U21’s in the week, which will without doubt help take the pressure of Rashford to be the only attacking threat from the left.

In fact, the left-footed ace’s attacking ability is so impressive that football analyst Ben Mattinson believes he could become a “[Bukayo] Saka rival” for England – albeit while operating in a more advanced role – while journalist Michele Neri has even noted that he has "shades of Rafael Leao" – the Portuguese ace currently shining at AC Milan.

Such praise indicates just what a coup it could be if Ratcliffe – who is still in the early phase of his United ownership – is able to snap up the young Englishman, with Rashford among those who could certainly benefit from such a capture.

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Tottenham have been dealt a blow after it emerged that one of their key depth pieces is set for time on the sidelines with a serious injury.

Spurs thriving despite injuries

Despite the departure of Harry Kane over the summer in a mega-money move to Bayern Munich, Tottenham are loving life under new boss Ange Postecoglou. The Australian has bought exciting football back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the very thing that Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho tried to stamp out of the Tottenham DNA.

More importantly though, he has bought results too. As things stand, Spurs sit fourth in the Premier League, seven points off top spot and occupying one of the illustrious Champions League qualification spots for next season. In a campaign where many thought the departure of Kane would send them backwards, they have shot forwards remarkably despite their injury woes that have seen the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur, Mickey Van de Ven and James Maddison all miss large parts of the campaign.

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ByAngus Sinclair Feb 16, 2024 Ange reveals fresh concern over "fractured foot"

Quizzed on his team news ahead of Tottenham's clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ange revealed that he had quite a lengthly absentee list to deal with, and goalkeeper Fraser Forster is the latest to be added to the squad members sidelined in north London, expected to miss around 7 games.

Forster is yet to make a Premier League appearance so far this campaign, with his sole showing coming in the Carabao Cup Third Round where his side fell to a penalty shoot-out defeat to London rivals Fulham, but he remains the Tottenham number two.

Now, he may not be seen again for some time after picking up a foot injury in training that is set to keep him off the substitutes bench for several weeks. Quizzed on it, Postecoglou revealed (via Fabrizio Romano): "He picked up a knock in training – a fracture in his foot – he's longer-term, a couple of months. Yeah, disappointing."

His £75,000-per-week contract runs out at the end of the campaign and Postecoglou's side are yet to show any sign of wishing to extend his time in north London, meaning that the former Celtic man may well have played his final game for the Lilywhites.

Tottenham injuries

Injury type

Expected return

Pedro Porro

Groin

March

Destiny Udogie

Knee

March

Manor Solomon

Knee

Unknown

Fraser Forster

Foot

April

Ryan Sessegnon

Thigh

Unknown

It means that should first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario be forced to miss a game through any issue, whether it be injury or suspension, Postecoglou will have a major headache on his hands. As it stands, his options are Alfie Whiteman or Brandon Austin, but neither will inspire confidence among the Lilywhite faithful.

Whiteman spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Swedish top flight side Degerfors and has only played for the Spurs senior side on one occasion, while Brandon Austin has been at the club since 2016 but is yet to make his debut for his boyhood side.

With Vicario having been incredibly impressive since his summer arrival, and Hugo Lloris having departed the club in January for pastures new, Tottenham fans will be holding their breath any time the Italian shot-stopper goes down in the final stint of the campaign.

West Ham United have fallen into a slump and questions have been raised about the future of David Moyes in the managerial role, with no victories across the past eight matches.

Perspective is important and the Hammers remain eighth-placed in the Premier League, having also topped their Europa League group back in December, but Moyes is out of contract in the summer and talks of renewal have stagnated after the recent 6-0 drubbing by Arsenal.

The Scotsman has brought illustrious success to the East London club after taking the reins with the outfit in an imperiled position, but change is inevitable and if the board does decide that his time is up, there are a host of possible successors already linked.

West Ham's manager shortlist

According to The Telegraph's Matt Law, Moyes' grip on his position is decidedly weak after falling to a 2-0 loss against Nottingham Forest last time out, and with concerns over his pragmatic style of play, former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter is sure to be on the list.

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He is not the only candidate though, with Julen Lopetegui said to be a manager that West Ham could move for, having produced some stellar results with Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, ending his stay at Molineux before the start of the 2023/24 season after voicing discontent over frugality and lack of investment.

Julen Lopetegui would be perfect for Jarrod Bowen

Moyes clearly knows how to win, having secured a trophy last season, and while many supporters might want a fresh face in the dugout, there is always the risk that the pillars will crumble, and a golden era will be no more.

But, perhaps that is pessimistic, with the Irons crafted into a club of genuine quality, brimming with strengths across various positions; Lopetegui is the perfect man to revitalise the crop.

Preferring to use a 4-2-3-1 formation, the 57-year-old tactician would slot right into West Ham's system, using the likes of James Ward-Prowse or Lucas Paqueta in the creative No. 10 role, serving as conduits as his side seek to play out from the back, which could be perfect for Jarrod Bowen.

Bowen, aged 27, has been invariably efficient throughout his Hammers career and has posted 14 goals and five assists across 31 matches in all competitions this term, thriving despite the ostensible attacking hindrances in the set-up.

Bowen has been fielded as a dynamic centre-forward on multiple occasions this term to compensate for the side's lack of a first-class striker, but he is best suited to the right flank, having been heralded for joining the "Salah club" by talkSPORT's Tony Cascarino for his goalscoring prowess as an in-swinger.

Wolves' intensity and purpose under the Spaniard's stewardship was indicative of his demeanour and merit as a high-profile manager, but while the Old Gold enjoyed much fruitful play, they did not capitalise on opportunities with the constancy to truly surpass expectations.

With Bowen producing prolific results at London Stadium, however, West Ham could find Moyes' dream successor, a man who has been described by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as an "exceptional" person, and won the Europa League with Sevilla back in 2020.

He plays a progressive, attacking, system that would benefit Bowen, and is loved by the boss who won the treble with his club last season, which is why this could be a smart move for the Hammers.

The West Ham bosses will need to come to a decision sooner rather than later, but Lopetegui has the makings of a boss capable of continuing the long-term vision, and Moyes could be ditched to make way for him to come in.

It was all going a little too well for Arsenal, wasn't it?

Last night's defeat in the Champions League Round of 16 has taken the sheen off the Gunners' imperious Premier League form ever so slightly, but with the second leg to come, it's not all doom and gloom.

The in-form team weren't particularly impressive on the night, and while the action on the pitch didn't give fans much to cheer about, the names on Mikel Arteta's bench might.

There were your usual suspects like Jorginho and Eddie Nketiah, but there were also a couple of academy gems, one of whom could well be the club's next Ben White.

How Ben White has performed at Arsenal

White joined Arsenal in a £50m deal from Brighton & Hove Albion back in the summer of 2021, and while there were plenty of naysayers at the time questioning the price and deal itself, they aren't questioning it now.

The Poole-born defender started life at the club as a centre-back and formed a reasonably effective partnership with Gabriel for the 2021/22 season, in which he made 37 appearances across all competitions, three of which came at right-back.

However, upon the integration of William Saliba, the former Seagulls man was at a crossroads in his short Arsenal career: move on, or adapt and become the team's first-choice right-back.

He did the latter and has since racked up another 81 appearances in red and white, scored three goals and provided seven assists.

He might not be the most flashy of right-backs in the league compared to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Pedro Porro, but he has been an essential cog in Arteta's new-look Arsenal side.

So, fans should be reasonably excited about the emergence of a young Hale End graduate who could duke it out with White for a place in the team a few years from now.

Why fans should be excited about James Sweet

The youngster lining up to rival White in a few years is 20-year-old James Sweet, who joined the Gunners' youth setup as an eight-year-old in 2012.

He's since worked his way up through the various youth sides, making 30 appearances for the U18s and another 24 for the U21s and picking up a total of six goals and 11 assists along the way, giving him a goal involvement on average, every 7.71 games which isn't bad for a right-back.

That said, the "hard-working" academy gem, as described by Arsenal youth expert Jeorge Bird, can also play as a right-sided midfielder, mimicking White's ability to play in multiple positions depending on what is asked of him.

In fact, the London-born gem has been used in multiple positions in the youth teams, playing as a right-midfielder, central-midfielder, left-midfielder, left-back, defensive midfielder, and even right-winger, but he is primarily still a right-back.

He has also picked up some valuable international experience, making two appearances for England's U17s, although he is currently playing with the Wales U19 squad.

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Ultimately, while Sweet won't be breaking into the first team anytime soon, he was picked for the bench against Porto for a reason, and with how he is spoken about, the number of games he has played and his positional versatility, he could well be battling it out with White a few years down the line.

Former Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has had his say on Wayne Rooney’s recent St Andrew’s exit.

Birmingham managers 2023/24

Blues began the current Championship campaign with John Eustace in charge in the Midlands, enjoying a positive first few months.

However, despite sitting in the playoff places, Eustace was sacked following a 3-1 victory over West Brom, something which didn’t go down well, with supporters hitting out at the decision.

Birmingham chiefs decided that Rooney was the man for the job and he was quickly brought in. That call didn’t work out for the Manchester United and England legend or Birmingham, though, with the club losing nine of the 15 games in charge under the 38 year-old.

He was sacked at the beginning of the year after a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United on New Year's Day, with the club going from playoff contenders to a relegation battle. Rooney released a statement following his dismissal which read:

“I would like to thank Tom Wagner, Tom Brady and Garry Cook for the opportunity to manage Birmingham City FC and the support they all gave me during my short period with the club. Football is a results business – and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be. However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.

“Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16. Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager. Finally, I wish Birmingham City FC and its owners my best wishes in the pursuit of their ambitions.”

Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray was named as Rooney’s successor, and so far, he has won two of his five games with Birmingham just four points above the drop zone.

Steve Bruce discusses Wayne Rooney sacking

Talking to Football Fancast, Bruce, speaking on behalf of BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League betting, was asked if Rooney should have been given more time at St Andrew’s.

Rooney remains out of work, whereas Mowbray will be looking to guide Blues away from trouble in the final 17 games of the campaign.