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Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has revealed that Hannah Hampton could miss the rest of 2025 with a quad injury, potentially ruling her out of the Lionesses upcoming friendlies against China and Ghana later this month. The renowned shot stopper missed Chelsea's 6-0 win over St. Polten in the Women's Champions League, after picking up the injury during the Blues 1-1 draw with Arsenal last Saturday.

Hampton to miss big games for both Chelsea and England

Bompastor confirmed that Hampton will miss the next few weeks of action at the very least, ruling her out of key fixtures for both club and country. The 24-year-old completed her side's draw with rivals Arsenal despite the ailment, but was ruled out of their midweek demolition of the Austrian champions. 

Chelsea travel to Liverpool tomorrow in the Women's Super League, before hosting Barcelona in the Women's Champions League on November 20. The inaugural winner of the Women's Yashin Trophy would have been a nailed on starter for Sarina Weigman's side in the upcoming international window as the European champions work towards the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. 

Hampton was also absent from England duty last month with an elbow injury. She was replaced by Manchester City keeper Khiara Keating, who conceded twice in the first 20 minutes of her debut against Brazil. The Lionesses eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Selecao. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBompastor: Hampton will be out for a "few weeks"

In her pre-match press conference ahead of the Liverpool clash, Bompastor said: "Hannah won't be here. She picked up a quad injury.

"She will be out for a few weeks. We'll see if we see her before the end of the year but I'm not sure."

When the French manager was asked if that would rule the 24-year-old out of international duty, she simply replied: "It could be the case, yes."

Hampton injury presents an opportunity for Peng and Keating

Hampton's extended absence opens the door for Livia Peng to show her potential in the Chelsea goal. The Swiss stopper joined the Blues in the summer following an impressive two year spell with Werder Bremen. She was named to 's team of the season in 2024-25, as she kept seven clean sheets in 21 league games. The 23-year-old has cemented her spot as Switzerland's no. 1, starting all four of her country's during this summer's European Championship as the host nation was knocked out at the quarter final stage by eventual finalists Spain. She made her club debut in Chelsea's dominant win over St. Polten earlier this week. 

City's Keating will also have the opportunity to stake her claim to be Hampton's clear backup at the very least. The 21-year-old has gone from strength-to-strength since supplanting Ellie Roebuck as the City No.1 during the 2023-24 season. She would go on to win the WSL Golden Globe at the end of that campaign, making her the youngest player to pick up the award. Keating has been in impressive form again this term, keeping nine clean sheets in all competitions. 

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Getty Images SportInjury comes at challenging time for Hampton

After last season's resounding successes: winning the Euros, picking up the award for the best female goalkeeper in the game and winning the WSL for the second time, the start of the 2025/26 season has been a tough ride for Hampton. 

The protracted fallout from Mary Earps autobiography, in which the former Sports Personality of the Year accused her understudy of being "disruptive and unreliable" has been an unwelcome distraction. Hampton presumably would have hoped to move on from that saga by letting her play do the talking, especially with the Three Lions on her chest. While she has been in impressive form for her club, conceding just four goals in eight league appearances this term, missing her second international window in succession with injury, is a cruel blow. Hopefully, she can recover before the end of 2025. The league phase of Chelsea's Women's Champions League campaign concludes with ties against Roma and Wolfsburg in December. 

His story is a complex one, but there was much to admire about Pucovski with bat in hand

Alex Malcolm09-Apr-2025It was not a surprise when Will Pucovski said “I’m not going to be playing cricket again” in a Melbourne radio studio on Tuesday.Those words had been expected for a year. But the inevitability of them doesn’t make them any less sad.Twenty-seven-year-old’s with three first-class double centuries and an average of 45.19 aren’t supposed to retire from the game.Pucovski spoke of wanting to play 100 Tests. “Unfortunately, one Test is where it ends,” he said.Related

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Pucovski announces retirement from cricket due to concussion

It’s heartbreaking to think there is an alternative universe where Pucovski might have already played 41 Test matches without interruption after his debut against India at the SCG in January 2021.An alternative universe where he already has multiple Test centuries and is Australia’s incumbent opener, currently preparing for a stint in county cricket like the one he was set for last year with Leicestershire, ahead of the World Test Championship final.In that universe he would be a pivotal figure in Australia’s aging XI, with he and Cameron Green the two pillars of the next generation as a team full of over 30s hurtles towards transition.But in this universe, the sadness at what might have been is replaced by the grim reality that Pucovski’s retirement is a relief for all concerned.He is still suffering concussion symptoms over a year on from what is hopefully his last blow. He spoke of getting dizzy just looking at things from his left eye. Motion sickness from a train ride last Saturday caused a three-hour afternoon nap. Headaches and fatigue are a daily feature of his life now.An independent medical panel recommended he retire last year. The competitor in him went on a global search to find an alternative solution that might allow him to play again. But the risk of another blow is too great.Will Pucovski takes on the short ball•AFP via Getty ImagesThe number of blows is well into double figures and they even pre-date his cricket career. There were concussions in the field, in the nets, after tripping over while running between the wickets, while playing a game of warm-up soccer, on top of numerous blows facing high quality first-class bowling.Getting hit is an occupational hazard for a professional top-order batter. Even Steven Smith has been felled. But the best rarely get hit more than once or twice in a career. For Pucovski it was a yearly occurrence. He never played more than seven first-class games in a season across eight years as a professional.He also took numerous mental health breaks which he is certain are a side effect of his concussions. His family have noticed a change in him as a person.He knows it’s complicated and hard to understand. He noted that the confusion has been fuelled further by the fact there has been no consensus on how it all knits together amongst the many medical experts he has consulted.

Those who bowled to him at his best said there was an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. His intimidation as a batter wasn’t through powerful ball-striking, it was through the ease of his scoring ability against their best balls

All of that makes his case so complex. Unlike Australia Rules Football, which has made strides in navigating medical retirements due to concussion, Pucovski’s is a test case in cricket. It is hard to know what the game owes him, what his future earnings might have been worth. That is still being determined.There are no guarantees in cricket. Matt Renshaw was once a prodigy who made 184 in a Test for Australia as a 20-year-old. He has just turned 29 and looks a fair way off adding to his 14 Tests right now. Kurtis Patterson, who was selected ahead of Pucovski in January 2019, made an unbeaten century in his last Test innings aged 25. Now 31, he has not played a Test match since and has only this season fought his way back from the first-class wilderness having fallen out of love with the game.Cricket’s top earners are also three-format players. Pucovski played 50 professional matches without a single T20 appearance. He struck at 77.62 in his 14 List A games.But that’s part of what made him unique and potentially a great loss to Australia’s Test team. Growing up in arguably the first generation of Australian batters that developed on more short-form cricket than long-form at underage levels, Pucovski was cut from a different cloth. So many of his cohort have been plagued by hard hands and poor decision-making in first-class cricket. Pucovski was a throwback to a different era.Runs for fun: Will Pucovski so often looked at ease in the middle•Getty ImagesThose who saw him up close at first-class level speak about his exceptional decision-making and problem-solving ability. There was a softness to his play, an economy to his movements. People were in awe of the time he seemed to have.His first double-century in first-class cricket was extraordinary. On a WACA pitch where WA were bowled out for 208 and 251 and only four others in the match passed 42 and none of them batted in the top four, Pucovski peeled off 243 not out from 311 balls at No. 3.Those who bowled to him at his best said there was an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. His intimidation as a batter wasn’t through powerful ball-striking, it was through the ease of his scoring ability against their best balls.That was never more evident than in October 2020. There was precious little cricket being played anywhere due to Covid, but the Sheffield Shield was in a bubble in Adelaide.Pucovski grabbed the world’s attention with back-to-back double centuries against South Australia and Western Australia. His team-mates said he was in such rare form that he had asked them to fling balls at top pace in the nets from five metres infront of the bowling crease to make his practice more challenging.Will Pucovski punches one off the back foot•Getty ImagesHis Test debut only months later – although delayed by another blow to the helmet in a tour match – was also evidence of his gifts. He only struck four boundaries in a 110-ball 62 against an India attack comprising of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. What’s clear from rewatching the highlights in the aftermath of his retirement is how willing he was to let the ball come to him. He played late under his eyes, never once trying to over hit it. He was content just finding gaps and accumulating like he had so often at first-class level.It is a shame that player is now lost to cricket. But it is a positive that Pucovski the person won’t be lost to cricket. He spoke of a keenness to coach and will begin his journey with his beloved Melbourne Cricket Club as head coach next season. He also spoke of potentially getting involved in cricket administration at some point and has already shown his commentary capabilities in brief television stints in Australia.His cerebral nature, his openness to explore different ideas beyond the insularity elite cricket can often cultivate will make him an asset to the game in whatever he chooses to do.That he was grateful for one Test rather than bitter about being denied many more is a window into his character. There will be a future in cricket for Will Pucovski. Just not the one he might have hoped for.

There was chaos after Shanaka was initially given out caught behind, then found short of his crease, but given not out for both

Shashank Kishore27-Sep-2025Why was Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka ruled not out even though he was run-out by Sanju Samson off the fourth ball of the Super Over against India in the Asia Cup game on Friday?For a while, confusion reigned when Shanaka ventured out of his crease after missing a yorker from Arshdeep Singh, who went up in an appeal for a caught behind, while Samson threw the ball at the stumps to find the batter short. But the umpire had given Shanaka out caught behind after a bit of contemplation, and Shanaka referred the decision upstairs to the third umpire Masudur Rahman. After replays confirmed there was no bat involved, Shanaka was ruled not out for the caught behind and for the run out too. It was the timing of the umpire signalling out initially for the caught behind – after Samson’s direct hit – that led to the confusion.MCC’s law states that “the ball will be deemed to be dead from the instant of the incident causing the dismissal”. In this case, that incident was the caught-behind appeal, which meant the ball had been dead when Samson tried to run Shanaka out. With replays proving Shanaka didn’t nick the ball, he was immediately deemed not out, even though India captain Suryakumar Yadav seemed to enquire with the umpires about the decision.Related

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“According to the rules, if you appeal for the catch, then Dasun could go up to the third umpire,” coach Sanath Jayasuriya said of what he made of the appeal. “It was the first decision that counts always, not the second. So he went for the referral, and it was not out. That’s what happened. But overall, I think there are a few grey areas [in terms of the rules at large] that they [officials] have to finetune a bit.”However, Shanaka was out next ball when he sliced one to deep third as Sri Lanka lost both their wickets five balls into the Super Over to set India just three runs to go into the final unbeaten. Suryakumar then thumped Wanindu Hasaranga first ball through the covers to seal India’s victory.

Wolverhampton Wanderers find themselves on the lookout for a new manager and have been alerted to the availability of a former Liverpool star.

Over the weekend, a chain events happened that could lead some to think that former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is in line for a return to management in the West Midlands.

On Saturday evening, the ex-Premier League star gave an honest verdict on why he didn’t make a return to Scotland following negotiations to take him back to Ibrox breaking down at the last minute.

Speaking on TNT Sports, he admitted that the timing of the offer came at a difficult point in his personal life, while he also made clear that instability at Rangers made him unable to commit to a return.

“I have to analyse, is it right for me? Is the timing right and are things perfect for me to be the best version of myself in that job? Unfortunately the timing, it didn’t feel right to me. I’ve got that much respect for Rangers that I wouldn’t go in there if I was 80-90% ready, but hopefully one day I’ll be more ready and more prepared for it and that chance might come again.”

Despite passing up the opportunity to return to his old club, his availability comes at a time when Wolves are searching for a permanent successor after sacking Vitor Pereira.

An out-of-work boss may well be their preference amid links to Brendan Rodgers and Xavi. Gerrard may not be keen due to Fosun and the new ownership at Rangers being mired in difficulty, but they do have an interest from one of his old teammates.

Robbie Keane applies for Wolves managerial vacancy

According to talkSPORT, Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane has applied for the Wolves managerial vacancy after leading his side to the Hungarian top-flight crown last season.

Formerly a fan favourite at Molineux due to scoring 27 times in 85 appearances during his spell at the club, the 45-year-old also won the Israeli Premier League title and Toto Cup while in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Keane has also been considered for the Celtic job in light of their search for a permanent successor to Rodgers. His credentials to get teams on winning runs can’t be underestimated, though coming from Hungary into the Premier League would be a major ask.

Wolves are eight points adrift in the top-flight and appear to be knee-deep in a scrap for survival. Seeing a former face would provide some hope to deflated Old Gold supporters, though the Irishman’s return of 13 wins in 22 matches circa 2025/26 hasn’t lived up to the hype of last term.

Find out the latest on Wolves' managerial search

Gary O’Neil could step back into the club after leaving less than a year ago. Either way, there is sure to be plenty of anticipation at Molineux over who will replace Pereira.

The Mets envisioned competing for a World Series in 2025, a season removed from a surprise run to the NLCS with a roster bolstered by the $765 million man, Juan Soto. As the July 31 trade deadline looms, New York is right in the thick of the crowded playoff race, at 62–44 and 1.5 games up on the Phillies in one of baseball's most competitive divisions.

After running out to a blazing hot start, however, the Mets hit a major skid ahead of the All-Star break, one that pulled back the curtain on a number of significant issues for the current roster. The starting rotation is relatively deep, and none of the Mets’ main starters have been truly disappointing, but aside from first-time All-Star David Peterson, the group has struggled to give manager Carlos Mendoza real length to begin games. The bullpen was a strength early on, but beyond All-Star closer Edwin Diaz, who has had an impressive bounceback season, the Mets’ top options struggled while the team limped into the midseason break. And while the dynamic group of Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso and Soto have provided the top of the Mets order with some serious punch, the back end has struggled to provide a real threat, with center field serving as a spot that could use an offensive upgrade.

With the hours counting down to Thursday’s trade deadline, the Mets are expected to target arms for both the rotation and bullpen, with center field being the most logical position for an offensive upgrade. Here are the three players that could slide seamlessly into New York’s roster in the coming days.

Mets Need: Starting Pitcher

New York entered the season with injuries to Sean Manaea, the team’s top pitcher for much of last season, as well as offseason addition Frankie Montas. The eight pitchers tasked to handle the majority of the team’s starts to begin the year, have averaged just over five innings per outing.

It is unlikely that team president David Stearns will be able to find a true top-flight starter in a relatively weak trade market for those types of arms, but adding someone who can consistently give the team six or seven quality innings would go a long way towards bolstering the staff.

Ideal Fit: Joe Ryan — Twins, RHP