Latest news with #PremierLeagueInternationalCup
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
5 next generation Celtic stars as Brendan Rodgers is urged to raid the youths over Scottish Cup Final sweats
It's all about the Treble for Celtic now as they gear up for the Scottish Cup Final on May 24 with only a couple of stops on the victory lap remaining in the league. Hoops fans are desperate to complete the clean sweep and the call is now for Brendan Rodgers to dig out the cotton wool to keep his squad safe for the big one. The Celtic boss is already resigned to being without Jota for the end-of-season showpiece against Aberdeen, with the wide man ruled out until 2026. And he's got some other concerns too, with Alistair Johnston and Cameron Carter-Vickers needing the kid gloves treatment in the coming weeks. There are also worries about Nicholas Kuhn after the German missed the Rangers stalemate at Ibrox last weekend and punters don't even want to consider the possibility of not having the likes of player of the year Daizen Maeda or skipper Callum McGregor at Hampden. A fair few supporters now believe this is the right time to have a look at some of the young prospects at the club. Not that many will know who they are. It's been a stunning campaign for Celtic but the one thing missing has been the emergence of talent from the Lennoxtown academy. The Hoops have had a hard core of home grown stars over the years, McGregor, James Forrest and Tony Ralston have been mainstays, comeback kid Kieran Tierney before and then going back to aces such as Shaun Maloney, Aiden McGeady, Stephen McManus, John Kennedy, Ross Wallace and so on. But the production line has dried up in recent years. Top youngsters are leaving the club even before they get barely a sniff of the first team – with Daniel Cummings the latest to follow the Ben Doak road out of Parkhead. It's a trend that is causing concern for supporters who have adopted heroes from all around the world, but crave a hometown lad coming through the ranks. Rodgers has given a couple a taste, but who could the Celtic gaffer turn to in these remaining games – starting against Hibs on Saturday – and who might turn out to be stars of the future? Francis Turley Rodgers raved about Irish midfielder Turley in pre-season and hinted the 19-year-old could become part of his first-team plans. He's been in and around the seniors most of the term but managed just a couple of minutes of top team action as a late sub in the 3-0 win at St Mirren back in August. The former Glentoran youngster has been a major part of the B team, has a lovely touch and killer pass on him. It might be time for another dip into the first team this weekend. Mitchell Robertson The centre back is the B team skipper and is another one the club reckon has the tools to go to the top and is learning his craft under Stephen McManus. Has looked the part in encounters beyond Scotland, such as the UEFA Youth League and the Premier League International Cup. Celts have a whack of centre halves right now but no one is really nailing down the role next to Carter-Vickers. There's fellow youngster Dane Murray – who was involved under Ange Postecoglou – but Robertson could be next in line. Jude Bonnar Celtic coaches have been talking up this midfielder almost since he walked through the door as a seven year-old. Now 19, Bonnar is a key man for the B team and loves to get on the ball and dictate play. It's an area of the pitch where Celts have an abundance of riches with McGregor, Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan. But Bonnar has already had a small sample of pitch time, is banging on the door and would be worth a look in the final dead rubbers. Colby Donovan The right back was a stand-out in Celtic's pre-season tour of America last summer and didn't look out of place against top level opposition like Chelsea and DC United. He also looked the part in the UEFA Youth League campaign. Donovan is a big lad with a great touch, he could handle the physicality of the first team and will be learning a ton from Johnston, and Ralston, who has shown the way from the youth ranks to the senior side. Sean McArdle The 17-year-old was a surprise name on the bench at Ibrox last weekend and it got tongues wagging. McArdle is a hot prospect and made a big impact in the UEFA Youth League with a late leveller against Lazio. The kid can play in a number of roles, either in midfield or out wide, where he has a turn of pace and a good delivery on him. McArdle has emerged as a main man in the under 19s and now B team and with Rodgers losing wide man Jota, there may be a chance for the attacker to get his chance.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Forgotten Liverpool midfielder scores and Rio Ngumoha assists in friendly win
Liverpool midfielder James Balagizi appeared in a friendly against Blackburn Rovers at U21 level this weekend, while Rio Ngumoha provided an assist in a non-competitive game in Kirkby. Balagizi played in the Premier League International Cup in January but he has only made two U21 appearances in the league this season because of a hamstring injury. Here, he played 90 minutes and found the back of the net with what proved to be the winner. Ranel Young, set up by Ngumoha, had earlier opened the scoring around 20 minutes in the game. Joe Boggan pulled one back for the visitor, but Liverpool could have won by more goals with Kieran Morrison and Trent Kone-Doherty missing opportunities to score. READ MORE: Liverpool may already have secret weapon in $65M transfer battle with Manchester City READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold's 'private response' to Liverpool backlash amid cryptic Mohamed Salah video Last season, Balagizi was on loan at Wigan Athletic in League One and Kilmarnock in Scotland but didn't nail down a place. His most successful loan was at Crawley Town, where he played 16 times. During the international break, Ngumoha scored a brilliant solo goal against Northern Ireland. That was when he was representing England at U17 level; he scored twice and assisted once in the rout. He also came off the bench against Israel and Slovenia. There are just three Premier League 2 games remaining for Liverpool's U21s this season. Next up is a trip to Brighton on April 6, before a home match against Leeds United on April 13 and a trip to Aston Villa on April 18 close out the season. says: Ngumoha is a really exciting winger and while he is raw, his talent is clear. It needs honing substantially before he is ready for senior action on a regular basis but there is a real player in the making there. Balagizi has been incredibly unfortunate with injuries over the last couple of years. He is another with real talent but he just needs to stay fit and get regular game time somewhere. That probably means a move away permanently when the season comes to an end.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Two fixtures rescheduled for Under-21s
The young Magpies were due to face their Reading counterparts at Whitley Park on Monday, 7th April, with kick-off set at 7pm (BST) but the fixture will now take place at St. James' Park. The date and kick-off time will remain the same. United's second-string, who currently occupy 13th place in the 26-team division, were also due to face league leaders Manchester City at the City Football Academy on Friday, 11th April, with kick-off set at 7pm (BST) but the game will now take place on Monday, 14th April. The venue and kick-off will remain the same. With three league games remaining, Diarmuid O'Carroll's side will be aiming to claim a top-16 spot to ensure qualification for the Premier League 2 play-offs, with the top 12 teams also sealing their place in next season's Premier League International Cup.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Goalscorer Parkinson 'buzzing to be back' after Middlesbrough win
Sean Neave's penalty sent the young Magpies ahead before the half-time whistle at Heritage Park before Parkinson, introduced from the substitutes' bench at the restart, scored within the opening two minutes of the second half as United's second-string recorded back-to-back league victories following last week's 4-1 win against Stoke City. Parkinson, who had netted 11 goals across all competitions for United's youngsters before the turn of the new year, expressed his delight in returning to action after sustaining a foot injury on New Years' Day and is keen to kick on for the remainder of the 2024/25 campaign. The 20-year-old forward, who made his Premier League debut for his boyhood club away at AFC Bournemouth in November 2023, told "It's a big night for the team. I think we needed a win after a tough period since January. We're trying to stay in the top 16 so it's a big three points and, on a personal note, I'm buzzing to be back and scoring. "I was told before coming on to be myself, playing like I was before Christmas when I was scoring goals and playing with confidence. I think I've also took a lot of confidence from my rehab and although it came at an unfortunate time, it was possibly the right thing for me and I was trying to take the positives from that. "It couldn't have come at a worse time. I did it on New Years' Day and the January transfer window was something I was looking forward to, trying to get out and play senior football but that didn't happen. "I want to give thanks to the medical team, Carl (Nelson) and Andy (Campbell) who got me back to full fitness and I'm now looking forward to the rest of the season." The young Magpies are in Northumberland Senior Cup semi-final action on Tuesday night, facing an away tie against Heaton Stannington as they bid to defend the trophy they lifted last term, beating Blyth Town 2-1 in the final at St. James' Park. Parkinson, who joined United's youth set-up at the age of seven, is keen for the team to end the season in positive fashion and believes the squad are regaining their form displayed in the first half of the season, which saw Newcastle's youngsters win six of their opening ten league matches. The Durham-born youngster added: "There's still a few games left and I want to try and score as many goals and play as well as I can. As a team, we've got to look towards the Senior Cup. It's a competition that Newcastle sides should and look to win every year. "In the league, we're still fighting for the top 16 and that's somewhere we want to be, put the Academy in a good place play in the Premier League International Cup next season. "I think the team is getting back to where it was before Christmas. Everyone is running for each other and that team ethic and togetherness is there so we're really looking to push on and finish as high as we can in the table."
New York Times
06-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Crystal Palace prospect Jesse Derry set to leave after rejecting contract offer
Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry is set to leave the club after rejecting a professional contract. The 17-year-old forward has informed Palace that it is his intention to leave in the summer when his existing scholarship contract expires and that he will not sign fresh terms. He is believed to be concerned about a perceived lack of pathway at the club, with no apparent medium to long-term route into the first-team set-up. Advertisement Derry is the son of Palace cult hero Shaun, who captained the team which avoided relegation from the Championship on the final day of the 2009-10 season after being deducted 10 points following the club entering administration in January 2010. Shaun returned to Palace after retiring as a player to become a coach but was controversially sacked as first-team coach in January 2023 by then-manager Patrick Vieira and subsequently came back for a brief spell under Roy Hodgson after Vieira's departure. Derry was named Under-18s player of the season last term after scoring 16 goals in 22 appearances and has been recognised on the international stage with England Under-18s. He was named in the England Under-17s squad for their European U17 Championship qualifying matches in November 2023 and scored four times in three games. Derry has made nine appearances for Palace's Under-21 side — of which five have come in Premier League 2 with a single start, three in the Premier League International Cup where he scored during a 2-1 defeat by RB Leipzig last month, and one as a late substitute in November's 4-1 EFL Trophy defeat by Peterborough. GO DEEPER Crystal Palace, ambition and the quandary over risk versus reward Palace, whose £30million academy redevelopment is set to be complete later this year with a hydrotherapy centre, will be due significant compensation from any team who decides to sign him. Should an agreement not be reached over the fee, it will be determined at a tribunal by the Professional Footballers' Compensation Committee. Barring any unexpected change of heart, he will become the third academy player to leave in quick succession, with 17-year-old striker Samuel Lusale departing for Manchester United in September, while Under-15s midfielder Reggie Watson moved to Chelsea in the summer. Watson, who made his Chelsea Under-18 debut aged 15, is the son of former Palace midfielder Ben, who emerged through the club's academy to make his senior debut aged 17 in 2003 and made 189 appearances for the club. As well as for Derry, Palace will also receive hefty compensation for both Lusale and Watson.
