Midfielder Hinshelwood has benefited from Ruth’s guidance at Brighton and the 19-year-old has featured heavily under De Zerbi and Hurzeler.

Hinshelwood’s direct journey to first-team football was unlike the path of Caicedo, who had to go out on loan and play for Ruth’s under-21s before he was ready for the seniors and ultimately a £115m move to Chelsea.

“Since I took the role when Roberto first came in, not a day has passed when an academy player hasn’t trained with our first team,” Ruth said.

“Passing players back and forth is really normal here. We believe it helps their development and believe it helps in making them get closer to impacting our first team.”

Ruth would like to become a head coach at some point, but he explained that coaches should not be in a “hurry” to secure the senior positions.

“As a 21s head coach, it is a great education. You are almost a filtered-down version of a senior coach,” Ruth said.

“The bits and pieces and the challenges that might land on my desk are nowhere near what might land on Fabian’s.”

The outlook appears bright for both Brighton Under-21s and their coach.

Ruth’s team sit second in the Premier League 2 table behind Manchester City, having lost just one game.

Players are seizing the chance to impress, knowing a first-team career is achievable.

“In the last four seasons we have had more players go on to play professionally than we have released,” Ruth said.

“The stat of young players falling out of football is big, we know. We’re really proud that that’s not the case [at Brighton] and we’re trying hard to defy that stat.”

Australian T20 World Cup winner and wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade, on Tuesday, retired from international cricket. He last appeared in Aussie colours at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

The 36-year-old will now join Australia’s coaching staff under Andre Borovec for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan, and the ODI series starting in Melbourne from November 4.

Wade played 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is over 13 years, scoring 1,613 runs, 1,867 and 1,202 respectively. He started off as a junior footballer, but switched to cricket owing to his height. A testicular cancer survivor, Wade remained in wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine’s shadow. Despite the setbacks, Wade went back to domestic cricket and made a strong case for himself with stellar performances for Tasmania.

He was picked for the England series in 2019, and then made his way into the white-ball teams. He made his mark in T20 cricket, with Hobart Hurricanes in BBL, and soon became Australia’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in 2020-21.

2021 T20 World Cup, Australia vs Pakistan semifinal, Dubai

The defining moment of his career came in the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he was the vice-captain and was assigned the role of a finisher. In the semifinal against Pakistan in Dubai, he smashed a 17-ball 41 not out in an epic finish, to take Australia into the final.

Wade came out to bat at no.7 in the 13^th over, after the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell (7). Australia needed 81 runs off 46 balls then, with Marcus Stoinis batting at the other end on four. The wicketkeeper-batter started off slowly, making eight runs off his first nine balls, while Stoinis was hitting the lusty blows.

Wade tees off in style

In the 18^th over bowled by Hasan Ali, Wade hit a six and a four to get going. Australia needed 22 runs now in two overs. Pakistan’s star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who had given only 13 runs in his three overs till then, came on to bowl the 19^th over, with Stoinis on strike.

The first was a dot ball. The Aussies managed to sneak in a leg-bye off the second ball, as Pakistan reviewed an LBW decision unsuccessfully. With Wade on strike, Afridi bowled a wide. The next ball would have been Wade’s last, but his mistimed shot was floored by Ali. What was worse, the Aussies managed to scamper back for two runs. The equation was down to 18 off nine balls.

Wade vs Shaheen Shah Afridi: 6, 6, 6

What followed was absolute carnage by Wade. He moved across his stumps and scooped an almost yorker to short fine leg for a six. The next ball was a cutter, but Wade cleared his front leg and mowed it down midwicket for yet another six. Pakistan’s hopes of taking the match into the final over were done and dusted, as Wade finished off the match in style, with yet another audacious scooped six off the last ball of Afridi’s over.

He was adudged the player of the match for his stellar innings. Australia went on to win their maiden T20 World Cup title, beating New Zealand by eight wickets in the final.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS star Charvarius Ward has tragically revealed his one-year-old daughter has passed away.

Ward, 28, confirmed on social media the heartbreaking news that Amani Joy had died on Monday morning.

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Alongside a picture of his daughter, the cornerback shared a loving message.

He said: “We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning.

“She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear.

“She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery.

“She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile.

“Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better.

“She will forever be daddy’s best friend and mommy’s little girl.

“We’ll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy.”

The 49ers also released a statement which read: “The 49ers family is devastated by the sudden passing of Charvarius Ward’s beloved one-year-old daughter, Amani Joy.

“Amani truly embodied pure happiness and brought joy to all those around her with her sweet demeanor and contagious laugh.

“We will continue to grieve with Charvarius and Monique, while sending them our love and support during this unimaginable time.”

Ward and partner Monique welcomed Amani Joy into the world in November 2022.

In March, on World Down Syndrome Day, the NFL star shared a post opening up about his daughter’s condition.

He said: “I used to think Down Syndrome was a handicap but now I realise it is just a gift from God.

“Being Amani’s dad has taught me patience & how to surrender & let things be.”

Ward featured for the 49ers in Sunday’s 30-24 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

It is not yet known whether he will feature against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his team’s next game on November 10.

Watch as Jayden Daniels throwqs a stunning last-gasp “once in a lifetime” Hail Mary pass as the Washington Commanders defeat the Chicago Bears in week eight of the NFL.

READ MORE: Daniels’ Hail Mary heroics, Browns stun Ravens & Chiefs stay perfect

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PREMIER LEAGUE cult hero Jason Puncheon has made a shock move into management with second-tier Cypriot side Ayia Napa FC.

The former Crystal Palace forward spent the best part of a decade in England’s top flight.

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He scored 24 Premier League goals and came off the bench in the 2016 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

Prior to his seven-year spell at Selhurst Park, he had enjoyed stints on loan at Millwall, Blackpool and QPR while with parent club Southampton.

And after his time at Palace came to an end, he moved to Cyprus for the final four years of his professional career.

Now he has taken to management with second division side Ayia Napa – having previously coached Peyia 2014 and AEZ Zakakiou.

A club statement read: “Agia Napa Athletic Club announces the start of its partnership with coach Jason Puncheon.

“Jason has previously been the coach of the PEGEIA team and also of Sa Zakakiou. The agreement with him is until May 2025.

“A member of the technical team will also be Christos Tsapatsoulis, who will be the direct partner of our new technician.

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“The board of directors wishes both of them every success with our team.”

Ayia Napa is a tourist resort on the southern coast of Cyprus and is famed among Brit partygoers for its thriving nightlife.