Everton find themselves in a precarious position in the Premier League with relegation to the Championship still a possibility heading into their final game of the season next weekend.

The Toffees took a point away from their clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday with a last-minute goal from Yerry Mina at Molineux keeping their chances alive to retain their top-flight status next season.

However, with Nottingham Forest securing safety they will now need to keep an eye on Leicester City and Leeds United for the final spot.

Sean Dyche will be incredibly relieved that his team managed to share the spoils with Wolves, but it didn't eliminate the mounting pressure as Dominic Calvert-Lewin made an early exit from the pitch after suffering hamstring issues.

The £100k-per-week Everton striker has had a constant battle with injury issues over the last 18 months, becoming an inconsistent presence in the forward line, which has ultimately contributed to the club's plight with goals too few and far between.

This latest concern for Calvert-Lewin should now send Dyche a clear message that the club's talisman can no longer be relied upon to deliver in the most crucial moments for the Merseysiders, and the summer will present an opportunity for the manager to improve the attacking threat.

Indeed, the recruitment strategy will heavily depend on how Everton's fate is sealed on the final day of the season, nevertheless, it is time for the club to move on from Calvert-Lewin and prioritise bringing in a striker who can offer availability and quality in front of goal, something they may not need to look far for.

Will Tom Cannon start for Everton next season?

Everton could save millions this summer whether they drop down to the Championship or get a second chance in the Premier League by unleashing youth academy graduate Tom Cannon, a young striker who has been thriving whilst out on a six-month loan with Preston North End.

Over 20 Championship appearances, the 20-year-old Irishman – hailed a "fantastic talent" by manager Ryan Lowe – has scored eight goals, registered one assist and created four big chances, as well as averaging 1.1 shots on target, 1.1 successful dribbles and 3.4 duels won per game, proving that he could be a huge asset for Dyche next season.

In less than six months with Preston, Cannon has scored double the number of goals than Calvert-Lewin, Ellis Simms and Neal Maupay combined (4) over the entire season in all competitions, which is a demanding indictment of the dire situation Everton find themselves in when it comes to deploying a quality centre-forward.

Cannon deservedly earned an international call-up to the Northern Ireland U21s squad this week which will surely only boost the youngster's development and confidence ahead of next season.

With that being said, there is no doubt that Dyche should be planning to include Cannon in his plans for next season and if he could continue to thrive, it will give Everton the greatest opportunity to finally move on from the inconsistency of Calvert-Lewin.

تحدث بوكايو ساكا مهاجم فريق آرسنال عن الفوز أمام وست هام بمنافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وتغلب آرسنال على وست هام بستة أهداف دون رد، في مباراة جمعت الفريقين بالجولة الرابعة والعشرين للبريميرليج.

وأحرز ساكا هدفين في المباراة أحدهما من ركلة جزاء، وأفاد في تصريحات لـ “سكاي سبورتس”: “كنا متقدمين 4-0 في الشوط الأول وكان بإمكاننا تسجيل المزيد من الأهداف، بما في ذلك أنا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | أوديجارد عن سداسية آرسنال أمام وست هام: أداء رائع بعد فوزنا الكبير ضد ليفربول

وأضاف: “لقد شممنا رائحة الدم اليوم وذهبنا للقتل، لقد قمنا بعمل جيد حقًا لتسجيل المزيد ونحن سعداء”.

وعن تسجيله 50 هدفًا مع آرسنال، أردف ساكا: “لأكون صادقًا، أنا سعيد حقًا بتحقيق ذلك، لكنني لست متأكدًا من أنني أستطيع أن أكون سعيدًا اليوم”.

وأوضح: “لقد أهدرت بعض الفرص التي اعتقدت أنه كان بإمكاني تسجيلها، كما تعلمون، لكن من الواضح أنه إنجاز عظيم، لذا أنا فخور بذلك”.

Ben Duckett, the Northamptonshire left-hander who has been included in England’s one-day and Test squads, has been named the Cricket Writers’ Club (CWC) Young Player of the Year.Duckett, 21, enjoyed a prolific 2016 season for his county and England Lions. In July, he struck a blistering 220 not out off 131 balls, including 29 fours and six sixes for the Lions in a one-day game against Sri Lanka A, but his highest score of the summer was an unbeaten 282 in the County Championship against Sussex.His tally of 1,338 runs in the County Championship included four hundreds, while he also helped Northamptonshire win the Twenty20 Blast.First presented in 1950, and one of the oldest such honours in cricket, the award, which by tradition is won just once in a career, is restricted to England-qualified players under the age of 23 on May 1. Previous winners of the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Player of the Year award have amassed more than 2,500 Test caps between them. Duckett is the first Northamptonshire player to receive the award since former England batsman Rob Bailey, now an international umpire, in 1984.The County Championship Player of the Year award, presented in association with William Hill, was won by Durham’s Keaton Jennings. The 24-year-old was the leading run-scorer in the competition with 1,548 runs at an average of 64.50 with seven hundreds, including a double century against Yorkshire and another when he carried his bat against Surrey. His career-best 88 in the final was also the highest score during T20 finals day. Jennings is the fifth recipient of an award first presented in 2012.Charlotte Edwards, the former England captain, was named the first winner of the CWC women’s award. She led England to the final of the World T20 in India and finished as England’s leading run scorer, and the tournament’s second highest scorer overall, only to be removed from the England captaincy in a controversial move as team management sought a fresh start.That decision prompted Edwards to retire from international cricket after more than 300 senior matches for her country but she still enjoyed a hugely successful domestic season. Edwards captained three sides to a unique treble in leading Kent to the 50-over County Championship title, the T20 title, and the Southern Vipers to victory in the inaugural T20 Super League.The Cricket Writers’ Club Book of the Year award went to Scyld Berry for Cricket: The Game of Life, and the Peter Smith award for the promotion of cricket to the public went to Mike Selvey, the former cricket correspondent of . All the trophies were presented during the course of the Club’s Annual Lunch – which marks the 70th anniversary of the club – at London’s Merchant Taylors’ Hall on Tuesday.

Ajinkya Rahane, the only centurion in India’s last home series, has spoken of the need to bat better against the New Zealand spinners, who are a more formidable test than Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir and Dane Piedt

Sidharth Monga in Kanpur19-Sep-20161:20

‘First Test will set the tone for the season’ – Rahane

With all the talk around the pitches and South Africa’s capitulation in the Test series last season, the failure of India’s frontline batsmen against spin didn’t quite come under the scanner. Those were some of the toughest pitches to bat on, but if India continue with their strategy of playing on similar tracks, they can’t always rely on Ravindra Jadeja and the tail to rescue them. Ajinkya Rahane, the only centurion in that home series, spoke of the need to bat better against the New Zealand spinners, who are a more formidable test than Simon Harmer, Imran Tahir and Dane Piedt.”We don’t take anyone lightly,” Rahane said of the New Zealand spinners, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Mark Craig. “While we respect them, our plan is to not let them settle down and dominate them.”India began their training in Kanpur on Sunday before the first Test starting Thursday. After a surprise rain shower cut short their first training session, the Test squad had extended practice a couple of hours on either side of Rahane’s press conference.New Zealand’s practice hasn’t been ideal, partly because of the packed international calendar. Playing in the pre-season, New Zealand got just one three-day game to get some match time before embarking on what could become the toughest test in world cricket today. Even their practice match was played on a flat track in Delhi, far from what they will get in the Tests.On the second day of that match, Mumbai, the Ranji Trophy champions who were missing two of their best batsmen, raked up 400 runs. However, just like Siddhesh Lad, the Mumbai batsman who scored an effortless century against the New Zealanders, Rahane stayed away from trying to score any psychological points.When told of the New Zealand spinners’ performance in the warm-up, Rahane was quick to point out how Test matches have a different intensity altogether. “Sometimes in practice matches, you are trying things,” Rahane said. “It is a different mindset. Tests mindset is entirely different. Their spinners are good, they have played with each other, and we will respect them.”One of the reasons to respect the spinners will be that Rahane expects more turning tracks. “Hopefully it [the Green Park pitch] will turn,” he said. “We all know wickets in India are helpful for spinners, and they will turn. That is our strength. It is important to play to our strengths. But as of now I am not sure how the wicket is going to be.”Rahane also said it didn’t matter how long it took to win as long as the wins kept arriving. “We never go in thinking we have to win in three or four days,” he said. “We just want to win matches, doesn’t matter if it is on the third day or the final session of the final day. That attitude matters.”India last played a Test in Kanpur against Sri Lanka in 2009, where spinners accounted for 20 of the 30 wickets to fall, with the hosts winning in little under four days. Rahane will be hoping for a similar result no matter how much time it takes.”We know we are playing 13 Test matches here [in India],” Rahane said. “The first Test will be crucial. This game will set the tone for the season. Yes we are playing ODIs as well but focussing on Tests first. The first Test of every series is crucial. You get that momentum from that. And I feel we all are ready for that.”

Chris Gayle has signed up to play five matches in Bangladesh Premier League 2016-17 for Chittagong Vikings, and will be available for the latter half of the tournament that begins on November 4 in Dhaka

Mohammad Isam27-Sep-2016Chris Gayle has signed up to play five matches in the Bangladesh Premier League 2016-17 for Chittagong Vikings, and will be available for the latter half of the tournament that begins on November 4 in Dhaka. Gayle, who played for Barisal Bulls in the 2015-16 edition, is among the 31 foreign players signed up by the seven franchises before the players’ draft scheduled for September 30.Apart from Gayle, Chittagong, who finished as the bottom-ranked team in 2015-16, have signed four other foreign players – Dwayne Smith, Shoaib Malik (played for Comilla Victorians last season), Chaturanga de Silva and Mohammad Nabi (from Rangpur Riders).Foreign players signed by franchises before the draft

Barisal Bulls: Dilshan Munaweera

Chittagong Vikings: Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Shoaib Malik, Chaturanga de Silva, Mohammad Nabi

Comilla Victorians: Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, Ashar Zaidi, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thisara Perera

Dhaka Dynamites: Kumar Sangakkara, Andre Russell, Mahela Jayawardene, Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis, Ravi Bopara

Khulna Titans: Nicholas Pooran, Riki Wessels, Kevon Cooper, Mohammad Asghar, Benny Howell

Rajshahi: Darren Sammy, Mohammad Sami

Rangpur Riders: Shahid Afridi, Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Shahzad, Dasun Shanaka, Gidron Pope, Richard Gleeson

Gayle had scored 139 runs in four matches for Barisal last season, while Nabi took seven wickets and scored 37 runs for Rangpur in seven matches. Smith had last played the tournament in 2013, while de Silva was the top wicket-taker in this year’s Dhaka Premier League one-day tournament.Ryan ten Doeschate, Grant Elliott, Ahmed Shehzad, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Herschelle Gibbs, Seekugge Prasanna, Jason Holder and Lendl Simons will enter the draft and have been placed in the A category for foreign players. Their salary cap is $70,000 while foreign players in categories B, C and D can earn up to $50,000, $40,000 and $30,000 respectively.Australian players Ben Hilfenhaus, Ben Laughlin, Tom Beaton and Evan Gulbis will also be a part of the draft. Thirty-six English players are part of the draft list, including James Vince, Liam Dawson, Jade Dernbach and Graham Onions.Defending champions Comilla Victorians have signed on Imad Wasim, Thisara Perera and Sohail Tanvir while retaining Ashar Zaidi and Nuwan Kulasekera. Imad, the Pakistan left-arm spinner, is set to make his first appearance in the Bangladesh Premier League, while Perera and Tanvir played for Rangpur Ryders and Sylhet Super Stars last season.Kumar Sangakkara will be joined by Mahela Jayawardene at Dhaka Dynamites. The franchise has also signed Andre Russell (from Comilla), Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis (from Barisal) and Ravi Bopara (from Sylhet).Rangpur have enlisted Shahid Afridi (from Sylhet), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Shahzad, Dasun Shanaka, 19-year-old West Indies batsman Gidron Pope and English pace bowler Richard Gleeson. This will be the first BPL appearance for the six new players in the Rangpur squad. Pope had impressed scouts in Bangladesh with his big-hitting abilities in the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, where he scored 232 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 107.9.While Barisal have only signed up Dilshan Munaweera so far, Rajshahi have picked Darren Sammy and Mohammad Sami. Nicholas Pooran, Riki Wessels, Kevon Cooper, Mohammad Asghar and Benny Howell have been signed by Khulna Titans.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShahzaib Ahmed finished with 5 for 85 against the touring West Indians•AFP

A five-wicket haul for legspinner Shahzaib Ahmed ensured the PCB Patron’s XI secured a first-innings lead before an eventual draw on the final day of the three-day tour match against West Indies.Darren Bravo and Shai Hope picked up where they left off on day two, their third-wicket stand contributing 93 runs in the end before Bravo was caught behind off Shan Masood just nine short of a century to make it 209 for 3. Hope added another 51 in tandem with Shane Dowrich for the sixth-wicket before he was Shahzaib’s third victim, bowled for 76 to make it 286 for 6.From there, West Indies needed only a further 23 runs to secure a first-innings lead but Shahzaib ripped through the rest of the middle order to spark a slide which saw West Indies lose their last five wickets for 11 runs to be all out for 297, 11 runs behind the PCB Patron’s XI. The legspinner had already claimed Kraigg Brathwaite on day two before Roston Chase was his first victim on day three for a duck. Hope’s wicket was then followed by a return catch from Jason Holder in his next over before a leg before decision to remove Dowrich for 33 made it three wickets in three consecutive overs to bring up a five-wicket haul.Junaid Khan came on for a late spell and wiped out the rest of the tail to finish with 2 for 31. Brathwaite then struck twice in the 16 overs the PCB Patron’s XI squeezed in with the bat before play was called off, claiming Masood and Ahmed Shehzad, while Holder took the other wicket to fall, Mohammad Hafeez caught behind.