Man Utd’s U21s comfortably beat Ipswich 5-0 in their opening Premier League 2 game of the season on Monday.

20:54, 24 Aug 2026

Followers of Manchester United’s academy have wondered how JJ Gabriel will transition to Under-21 football.

Gabriel was head and shoulders above his peers at Under-18 level throughout last season, and he looked a cut above again on Monday evening when he made his competitive U21 debut against Ipswich.

The 15-year-old was dwarfed in height by some of Ipswich’s players, but his special quality on the ball saw him compete against players much his senior. Michael Carrick watched from the stands alongside his assistant, Steve Holland, and the pair would have loved what they saw from the youngster.

Gabriel recorded two assists in the first half against Ipswich. They were nothing to write home about, but there was a sense of anticipation from the small pocket of fans each time he picked up the ball.

That buzz from the stands is due to the word of Gabriel’s talent already spreading far and wide. There is bound to have been fans who attended the game at Leigh Sports Village just to see a glimpse of him in action.

Gabriel was never going to be satisfied with just contributing assists on a night when United were dominant against an inferior Ipswich side, and he came out purring in the second half in search of a goal.

The Reds were 4-0 up at half-time, with Victor Musa, Jack Fletcher, Jayden Kamason and Dan Armer on the scoresheet, and it took Gabriel just six minutes in the second half to join in with the action, scoring with a perfectly executed lob that dipped under the crossbar.

The teenager hardly even celebrated as his teammates made their way over to celebrate with him. He expects to score brilliant goals, and he will score a bucket of them if he scales the heights he’s been tipped to reach.

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The fact that Gabriel is playing six years up is a testament to his quality and huge potential. Carrick handed the forward his first-team ‘debut’ in a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid, and he was included in the Republic of Ireland training camp when only a few other academy players made the cut.

Gabriel is expected to be given his senior debut this season, and performances like his display against Ipswich will only help to convince Carrick that he is ready to make a cameo from the bench for the first-team.

Gabriel scored a handful of superb goals for the U21s in behind-closed-doors friendlies at Carrington over the summer, but his goal against Ipswich represented his first competitive goal for that age group.

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United are doing all they can to keep Gabriel at the club. There are windows for rivals to poach academy players at 14 and 16, meaning he could move next summer, but United have laid out a clear pathway.

United have done, and are doing, everything within their power to keep Gabriel, including inviting him into the directors’ box at Old Trafford to watch games with his family, and being introduced to Sir Alex Ferguson.

He received a personal introduction to Ruben Amorim last season. Carrick has given him a pre-season debut, included him in senior training sessions, and his presence to watch the Ipswich game wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.

The only slight concern with Gabriel playing so above his own age group is the physical aspect. His special ability on the ball should mean he has no problem performing at the U21 level, but it’s a more physically demanding age group.

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United may have to handle Gabriel’s workload this season as his body continues to develop. He is just 15 after all, which shocked an observer from Ipswich in the press box who had never seen him play.

Adam Lawrence was also complimentary to Gabriel throughout the game. “Well done, JJ,” he effused on the hour mark as the youngster won back the ball, demonstrating he’s willing to do the ugly side of the game.

If you cannot make it to Leigh Sports Village to watch Gabriel in person this season, it may be worth buying an MUTV subscription. Gabriel is the kind of rare talent that is worth paying to see in the flesh.

A fight between David Benavidez and Oleksandr Usyk seemed an extremely unlikely affair a couple of years ago but now rumblings continue over it potentially happening.

Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion in May 2024, at which point Benavidez had never even competed above the super-middleweight division.

Since then ‘The Mexican Monster’ has claimed world honours at both light heavyweight and cruiserweight, with that triumph at 200lbs coming when he stopped WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez inside six rounds in May.

Benavidez is now rumoured to return in December to take on Michal Cieslak, with the possibility the vacant WBC belt could be on the line for that bout, but there are also talks that a possible Cinco de Mayo clash with Usyk at heavyweight could come next year.

Usyk vacated his heavyweight world titles following his controversial bout with Rico Verhoeven, claiming he had one more fight left in him, with that expected to have come against Deontay Wilder.

It seems as though Benavidez could now be in the running for that opportunity though, and top trainer Garcia has revealed how he believes that bout could unfold.

Speaking to Fino Boxing, Garcia said that he believes ‘The Mexican Monster’ has what it takes to defeat Usyk.

“I think that he [Benavidez] should go straight into Usyk, now.

“I think that Benavidez beats Usyk, really, for reals bro. I don’t think that I am the only one that thinks that, after Usyk’s last performance, I think that people might [agree]. I know there is a lot of risk and it won’t be easy, but I do believe that Benavidez beats him.”

Garcia isn’t the only one to make their prediction known for the possible fight, with boxing legend Mike Tyson also having his say.

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today, we revisit a clever putting tip from Seve Ballesteros from our September 1986 issue.

One of the biggest keys for reducing three-putts is dialing in your speed. If you can hit your putts with the proper speed, you will leave yourself with makable second putts — even if your aim isn’t perfect.

Recreational golfers typically struggle with this skill, particularly when you introduce break into the equation. These putts that require the marriage of line and speed can short-circuit the average Joe’s brain and lead to many three-putts.

If you’re someone who struggles on these types of putts, worry not. Thanks to a clever trick from five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros published in the pages of GOLF Magazine in 1986, you won’t have to fear three-putting anymore. Check out his advice below.

Seve’s trick for matching line and speed

One of the club golfer’s biggest problems on the greens is being too bold and knocking putts through any break.

Because sharp left-to-right and right-to-left putts depend so heavily on pace, they require an expert touch to get the ball rolling on the right line at the right speed — slow enough to take the slope but fast enough to reach the hole. Hitting the ball just right is a tough assignment, particularly when a match is on the line. 

I understand this problem well, which is why I’ve developed a strategic — and slightly unorthodox — method for putting that takes a little pressure off hitting the putt at the perfect speed. And if you aren’t sweating the pace, I guarantee you’ll make more breakers. 

The key is swinging on an out-to-in path, which means I catch the ball on the toe of the putter at impact. Because the toe end of the putter is lighter than the center, it effectively deadens the hit, allowing for a more aggressive stroke. Naturally, the combination of cutting across the ball and catching it on the toe is going to cause the ball to move a hair to the right. By using this rightward spin, I can hit the ball on an “inside line” to the crest of the break and let it drift back and down to the hole. 

Exactly how you hit the “inside line” putt depends on the direction the putt is breaking. 

Faced with a right-to-left putt, many golfers make one of two mistakes: 1. Fearing they won’t reach the crest of the break, they hit the ball too hard and run right through it; or 2. Attempting to be too delicate, they never reach the crest, so the ball falls off line on the low side of the hole. 

I take precautions against both mistakes by setting the blade square to a point inside the highest point of the break and then making a firm stroke. I take an open stance, which promotes the out-to-in stroke and a hit off the toe of the putter blade. Now when the ball reaches the crest of the break, it is moving fast enough not to fall off course, but slowly enough to take the break. 

Again, to hit the left-to-right putt, I set up open and aim the putter blade inside the crest of the break. This way the ball will drift back to the normal break and toward the cup. 

I’ve been using this method for a few years with success, especially on lightning-fast greens. Despite its unorthodoxy, I consider this percentage putting because even if I hit the ball a little easier or harder than I should, the ball still has a chance of rolling in one of the side doors; that’s a luxury the bold putter never has. He has to be right on the money, otherwise the ball will run past the hole or pop out because it’s moving with too much steam. 

If you fall into the category of the overly bold putter, make a visit to the practice green and give my method a try. I’m sure it will give you the inside line to lower scores.

India knocked out of FIH Men’s World Cup 2026 after 3-5 defeat against Argentina

Two-time Olympic bronze medallist and former India goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh has launched a scathing attack on the Indian hockey management after both the men’s and women’s teams failed to reach the semifinals of their respective World Cups.The men’s campaign ended on Monday with a 3-5 defeat against Argentina at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. India will now play Belgium in the seventh-place classification match.India’s hopes of reaching the semifinals had already taken a major blow after a 1-3 defeat to co-hosts Netherlands on Saturday. Against Argentina, India needed a win to stay in contention but their defensive frailties and failure to convert chances proved costly.Argentina took the lead just 36 seconds into the contest when Joaquin Toscani punished an error by Jarmanpreet Singh, who failed to intercept a ball across the goalmouth. Nicolas della Torre doubled the advantage in the sixth minute, converting Argentina’s second penalty corner.Sukhjeet Singh gave India a lifeline in the 10th minute, but they were unable to capitalise on their chances in the second quarter. Tomas Domene restored Argentina’s two-goal cushion in the 33rd minute before completing his brace with a penalty stroke in the 45th. Lucas Toscani then made it 5-2.Sukhjeet scored again in the 58th minute and Hardil Singh reduced the deficit further a minute later, but India could not complete the comeback.India also wasted all seven of their penalty corners, once again exposing their struggles to convert opportunities. Despite enjoying possession, they failed to produce enough end product.Sreejesh, who retired after the Paris Olympics, took to X after India’s exits and questioned the approach and accountability within Indian hockey.“Don’t worry… the World Cup doesn’t matter.“The Asian Games are coming. Win a medal there, and then we can start dreaming about LA 2028. Apparently, that’s enough to cover everything that went wrong at the World Cup.“Women’s chief coach on holiday just before the World Cup — and the girls still fought their hearts out and exceeded expectations. Credit to the players. But where is the accountability? Do we really expect a team to perform at its best when the chief coach is away during the final phase of preparation?“Men’s team loses to a top team → ‘It’s a learning experience.’Beats an Asian team → ‘Great victory.’Plays good hockey → ‘Good performance.’“But here’s the uncomfortable question: Are we building a team to PLAY good hockey, or a team capable of WINNING against the best in the world?“Stop hiding behind ‘learning’, ‘good hockey’ and future tournaments. The World Cup is not a rehearsal. It is the World Cup.“So who is going to ask the difficult questions? Who is going to demand accountability? And most importantly… Does anyone actually care?”Sreejesh had previously questioned the quality of Indian coaching after his tenure as the junior men’s team coach was not renewed. He had guided the side to a bronze medal at last year’s Junior World Cup.The women’s team had also missed out on a semifinal place after being held to a goalless draw by Australia in their final second-round match on Sunday. The result sent Australia through to the last four on the basis of having scored more goals.With both Indian teams failing to reach the semifinals, Sreejesh’s comments have added to the scrutiny over India’s ability to consistently compete with the world’s leading hockey nations.

Duleep Trophy, North Zone vs West Zone Highlights© PTI

Fisch is a fishing game in which you become rich by casting a line, catching different creatures, and selling them. On August 22, 2026, this Roblox title released its Astral Observatory update, which introduced a new area along with several equipment pieces, gameplay changes, and improvements.

Noiseform is a Stage 10 rod that can be obtained by completing the Mysterious Shadow’s questline. Once unlocked, you can complete a four-mission-long mastery questline to obtain several rewards. In this guide, we will discuss everything that’s important to master this rod.

What is Noiseform rod mastery in Fisch?

Noiseform is a Stage 10 rod in Fisch that was introduced via the Crews update on June 6, 2026. Later, on August 22, 2026, the Astral Observatory update added a mastery questline that you can complete to win several rewards.

To complete the Noiseform mastery, you have to first unlock the rod by completing a questline offered by the Mysterious Shadow NPC. Once unlocked, you can start completing a four-mission-long questline to obtain exclusive stat buffs, a skin, a lantern, a title, and gear.

Noiseform rod stats

• Location: Limited
• Source: Mysterious Shadow
• Stage: Stage 10
• Lure Speed: 125%
• Luck: 290%
• Control: 0
• Resilience: 65%
• Max Kg: inf kg
• Disturbance: +4
• Line Distance: 100 m

How to complete Noiseform rod mastery in Fisch

To complete the Noiseform rod mastery and obtain the Ravereign skin as a Grand Reward, you must complete the following quests:

Quest 1: A Noisy Throwback

• Riddle: A ballad echoes of tales long gone, follow its rhythm and relive your legacy.
• Objective: Catch a Rhythmic Megalodon, Rhythmic The Kraken, Rhythmic Shimmering Silverside, Rhythmic Scylla, and Rhythmic Styx Angler.
• How to complete: Using the Noiseform rod, you have to fish during each fish’s hunt event.
• Reward: Obelisk

Quest 2: Dance of the Green Titan

• Riddle: A beast lurks beneath the sea; follow its rhythm and witness its spark.
• Objective: Catch a Rhythmic, Sparkling Mossjaw
• How to complete: Enchant your Noiseform rod with Blessed or Glimmering Crown Enchantment and fish during the Mossjaw hunt using Glowworm bait.
• Reward: Caprine Title

Quest 3: Soul of the Devil

• Riddle: Tear down the evil that lies beneath, and fetch me the remains.
• Objective: Catch a Soultorn Olympian Devil.
• How to complete: Equip your Noiseform rod with Obsidian-Bone bait and start fishing at Olympian Fissure.
• Reward: Soulwalker

Quest 4: Flow of Life

• Riddle: Life glimmers where the waters flow deep.
• Objective: Catch a Shiny, Flowed Flower Guardian.
• How to complete: Enchant your Noiseform rod with Blessed or Glimmering Crown Enchantment and fish during the Flower Guardian Hunt in the Living Garden.
• Reward: Falling Arrow Time increased from 1-10 to 1-5. Flowed chance increased from 25% to 35%. The incorrect zone penalty decreased from -28% to -20% Enhancement.

FAQs on Noiseform rod mastery in Fisch

How do you unlock the Noiseform Rod in Fisch?

You must first complete the questline given by the Mysterious Shadow NPC to unlock the Noiseform Rod. Once you obtain the rod, you can begin its mastery questline and work toward the Grand Reward.

How many missions are there in Noiseform Rod mastery?

There are four missions in the Noiseform Rod mastery questline. You must complete all four to obtain the Grand Reward, Ravereign skin.

What is the first Noiseform mastery quest?

The first quest is A Noisy Throwback. You need to catch five Rhythmic fish: Megalodon, The Kraken, Shimmering Silverside, Scylla, and Styx Angler.