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Aston Villa journalist Luke Hatfield reckons that Ashley Young’s set-piece ability is a major reason why the re-signed him.

The 36-year-old spent five seasons at Villa Park between 2006 and 2011 before securing a sensational return following successful spells with Manchester United and Inter Milan.

Young has won five major trophies during his decade away from Villa, including the Premier League, Europa League and Serie A title with Inter last term.

He’s enjoyed an illustrious career, with many goals and assists throughout, although some of his finest years came in the claret and blue of Villa.

His best scoring seasons all came at Villa, with his immaculate set-pieces a large reason why he’s racked up 48 goals and 69 assists in England’s topflight.

And with Villa short of a genuine free-kick and corner taker in their current squad, Hatfield told Football FanCast that Young’s quality around dead ball situations was one of the reasons that led to his return:

“Another important part of his game, which Villa will have liked, is his set-pieces.

“He knows how to whip a good ball in, he knows how to score from a direct free-kick, which is an area that Villa are slightly weak in.”

Marcus Bent has exclusively told Football FanCast that he’s surprised Crystal Palace offered Christian Benteke a new contract – calling the striker a “Championship player”.

The Belgian has scored just 33 times in five seasons since making the £27m switch from Liverpool, but clearly did enough to convince the Palace hierarchy to offer him another deal.

10 of those came in the Premier League last season as Benteke ended the campaign in red hot form, but he only managed just six in 75 appearances in all competitions in the three years before 2020-21.

He scored six times in his final 10 league outings, including four on the bounce – with Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal three of his victims.

However, Bent isn’t convinced by the £120,000-per-week striker, who made just one substitute appearance for Belgium at the European Championships.

He told Football FanCast:

“He was massive at Villa as a young player, but I don’t think he scores enough goals. Hold-up play? I’m not too sure. I don’t think Benteke would be in my starting XI, squad player yes.

“He’s done well for his country, but he’s not consistent enough and I didn’t think he would be signing a new contract. For me, he’s a Championship player at best.”

Benteke’s five years with Crystal Palace have been strange to say the least. His four goals in as many games gave everyone a timely reminder of his capability, but his form generally in recent seasons has simply not been good enough.

Leicestershire have added fast bowler Devon Malcolm and batsman Ron Cunliffe to their squad for their fourth round C&G Trophy match against Sussex at Grace Road.The side will be chosen after a final practice session on Tuesday, but coach Phil Whitticase indicated it could well be unchanged despite the disappointing defeat in the Norwich Union League clash with Somerset on Sunday.Whitticase said: “It wasn’t a good performance and the way we batted was particularly disappointing. But there is no cause to panic. We have had a good chat about where we have gone wrong in the last couple of games – and there have been a few home truths.”We have not batted well as a unit,and that’s something we have to put right. But personally I am a believer in sticking to the same routine so that everyone knows their job.”Despite the blip it has still be a good start to the season and there is no cause for panic.But this is undoubtedly a big match for us and one we need to win. If we do it will put us in the quarter finals and re-ignite the season.”One player who will be looking to do well is Darren Stevens. He has had a fine start to the season, winning the Bland Bankart “Cricketer of the Month” award for April and May when he scored 445 runs at an average of 63.57.The Leicestershire squad is: Wells (capt),Ward, Sutcliffe, Maddy, Flower, Stevens, Burns, DeFreitas, Grove, Crowe, Whiley, Malcolm, Cunliffe.

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has announced that Clive Rice is leavingthe Club with immediate effect

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club21-Jun-2002Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club has announced that Clive Rice is leavingthe Club with immediate effect.Michael Newell and Jason Gallian will take charge of first team affairs forthe remainder of the 2002 season.The Club wishes to thank Clive for his service to the Club both as a playerand as Cricket Manager and wishes him and his family every success andhappiness in the future.

Carlton Palmer believes that Aston Villa wouldn’t be a sideways move for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.

Dean Smith’s side might have finished 12 points ahead of the Saints, but disappointing second half of the season meant they ended up just four places above the St Mary’s outfit.

However, widespread reports believe that Smith is trying to bring the Southampton captain to Villa Park this summer in what would be their latest high-profile Premier League addition.

Villa have already secured the services of Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia for a club-record fee last week, whilst Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez arrived 12 months ago.

Ward-Prowse has enjoyed an impressive season for Southampton, scoring eight times – two of which were stunning free-kicks against Aston Villa – which is more than Jack Grealish, whilst also laying on seven assists for his teammates.

However, his form wasn’t enough to see him named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the Euro’s despite an outstanding performance in the final warm-up game against Romania on Sunday.

Palmer told Football FanCast that signing for Villa would be a progressive move for Ward-Prowse despite the club’s both on a similar level:

“Villa are going for it. They’ve just managed to sign Buendia. Villa are a big, big club, and have a top manager in Dean Smith.

“So, from Southampton to Aston Villa, I think that’s a good move. And with Grealish there, I don’t expect Grealish to be going anywhere.

“He’s getting a very good squad of players there, and they could be challenging top six or top seven next season, so that would be a good move for him.”

Lawrie Sanchez is confident that Chris Wilder would get West Brom promoted at the first time of asking, but has revealed he has a concern that the manager wouldn’t have the same “emotional connection” that he had at Sheffield United.

The former Blades boss has been out of management since his sacking at Bramall Lane earlier this year but is the favourite to become the new West Brom boss following the recent departure of Sam Allardyce.

Wilder took the Blades from League One to their highest Premier League finish last term, but paid the price for their struggles this season, which eventually culminated in relegation.

A report from the Telegraph earlier in May said that Wilder was set to hold talks with West Brom about becoming their new manager, although Frank Lampard and Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael are both in the running for the job.

West Brom are going to be amongst the favourites to win promotion straight back to the Premier League, but Wilder has experience of getting a team out of the Championship having led Sheffield United back to the promise land two seasons ago following their second-place finish behind Norwich.

But whilst he wouldn’t have the same ’emotional connection’ with the Baggies, Sanchez told Football FanCast that he would get West Brom promoted.

“If you get the team up you’ve got the golden ticket. It is the Willy Wonka golden ticket getting a team promoted, because what they see it hundreds of millions of quid.

“He’s got to be there or thereabouts. I’m sure he wouldn’t turn it down, but the only difference between Sheffield United and West Brom is that he had an emotional connection with Sheffield United, whereas West Brom is just another job. But I have no doubts that he would take them back up.”

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Daquelas coisas que só acontecem ao Botafogo. O lateral-direito Alemão, que já tinha a permanência dada como certa no Glorioso, não vai mais ser comprado pelo clube de General Severiano. Uma divergência entre o salário pedido e oferecido resultou no desfecho negativo da operação na noite desta terça-feira. Deste modo, o jogador não estará presente na reapresentação do elenco, nesta quarta.

Já estava tudo certo para o ala permanecer no Botafogo. Após certa demora, no fim do ano passado a diretoria aceitou pagar à vista os R$ 600 mil relativos aos direitos econômicos do atleta, que pertence ao Bragantino. Inclusive o esforço feito foi para que o jogador fosse opção de segurança, caso Luis Ricardo não retornasse bem da grave lesão que sofrera.

Jonas, do América-MG, chegou a ser contratado, mas a intenção era a permanência do titular no segundo semestre. O Botafogo tem, além dos três citados acima, Marcinho e Diego para a posição. O último deverá ser emprestado para o Macaé.

O grupo de empresários que representa Alemão é a Elenko. A diretoria do Glorioso, há poucos dias, rompeu relações com a empresa após o acordo para a compra de William Pottker, da Ponte Preta, ser desfeito. Lucca, do Corinthians, que interessa – ou interessava – ao clube, pertence ao mesmo grupo de empresários.

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Free State probably shaded the first day of their Supersport Series SuperEight encounter against Easterns at Willowmoore Park, although the home sidehad made some inroads into their batting order by the close.Visiting captain Gerard Brophy, who had made the decision to put Easterns inafter winning the toss, certainly had cause to feel that his choice had beenvindicated after the home side were knocked over for 224, with speedsterAllan Donald and off spinner Kosie Venter each grabbing three wickets.However, the hosts did hit back with two wickets in the 17 overs thatremained, with Gerhardus Liebenberg unbeaten on 22 and Wiaan Smit on 17 asEasterns reached 64 for two by the close.Early swing assisted the Free State bowlers as the pace trio of Donald,Victor Mpitsang and Dewald Pretorius each grabbed a wicket as Easterns werereduced to 37 for three. However, that brought Mike Rindel to the wicket andthe veteran left-hander took the game to the visitors with a swashbuckling69 off just 84 balls, including eight fours and a six.Rindel added 54 for the fourth wicket with Derek Crookes, but the home sidethen lost another three quick wickets to be 125 for six, before anotherleft-handed import, Ant Botha, and Albie Morkel combined to add aface-saving 69 for the seventh wicket.Even after Morkel (25) and Gareth Flusk (0) were run out in quicksuccession, there was still some resistance from Easterns, with Botha andAndre Nel adding 29 for the ninth wicket. Donald eventually knocked over Nel(10) and then had Botha caught at short leg by Rasheed Lewis for 59 to endthe innings.Morkel and Flusk grabbed the scalps of Andrew Gait (0) and Louis Wilkinson(17) respectively to keep the home side in it at the close.

Daniel Pinder, the editor-in-chief of Get German Football News, has exclusively told Football FanCast that Erling Haaland would be the perfect Sergio Aguero replacement for Manchester City this summer.

The Argentine has already announced that he’ll be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season, with the Borussia Dortmund striker reportedly top of Pep Guardiola’s wish list.

Haaland has already proved himself as one of Europe’s most feared frontmen by scoring 53 times in 56 appearances for the Bundesliga giants following his move from Salzburg last January, whilst laying on 16 assists for his teammates.

City face competition from rivals Manchester United for Haaland’s signature, whilst Guardiola has previously said it’s impossible for the Premier League champions-elect to sign another striker this window due to financial difficulties.

Despite those comments, Pinder believes that should the Norwegian swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League, he’d be a great addition for City to continue their domination of English football.

He told Football FanCast:

“I think if Man City were to go after him then he would be the man to replace Sergio Aguero – leading the line, being that threat in the box.

“He’s obviously shown he can play at the highest level and Man City, they challenge on all fronts, Premier League, Champions League and all the cups, it will be a big task to replace Aguero, but I think Haaland would be that player.”

Daily Record reporter Keith Jackson has provided a major update in regards to Celtic’s pursuit of Eddie Howe.

The Lowdown: Celtic and Howe

Links between Howe and the Hoops first began in April, with the 43-year-old reportedly meeting Dermot Desmond in London for talks.

Howe verbally agreed on a move to Parkhead, however, a deal is still yet to be announced, with the Englishman thought to be having second thoughts.

It seems as if a move is back on the cards, though, with a recent story suggesting Howe is finalising his Celtic Park backroom staff.

The Latest: Howe’s appointment is when, not if

In an in-depth piece on Celtic detailing the stories of both former manager Neil Lennon and Howe, Jackson appeared to drop a hugely positive claim on the situation.

The Daily Record man said:

“The informed word is, it’s only a matter of when Desmond lands his top target as opposed to if.”

Jackson went on to describe the situation as a ‘calculated gamble’ by the Hoops hierarchy, but it appears as if it may well pay off going off his latest comments.

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The Verdict: McKay and Desmond surely delighted

In our opinion, New Celtic CEO Dominic McKay and Desmond will be delighted, should Jackson’s recent claim be accurate.

Celtic only have two league games remaining and the summer window is edging closer, so the board could do with agreeing on a deal for Lennon’s long-term successor relatively soon ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Going into a crucial transfer window without a Director of Football or a permanent manager in place could be a disaster, so the sooner that ‘when’ comes the better.

It seems as if a move for Howe is under control, though, so, hopefully, as well as working on his backroom staff, he is beginning to work out who he wants to remain at the club, as well as potential areas to strengthen, giving new chief McKay a head start on the summer rebuild.

In other news: Raman Bhardwaj drops late-night Celtic post; could be helpful to McKay, find out more here.