Connect with us

Sports

Jacob Ramsey: Has Bruno Guimaraes given midfielder time to shine?

Published

4 weeks ago

on

That night in Paris certainly felt significant last month.

No other Newcastle player won more duels (seven) and fouls (three) than Ramsey, who had the most shots (two) in the 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes.

He also ranked in the top two visiting players for successful passes (32) and touches in the opposition box (three) against the Champions League holders.

The fearless manner in which Ramsey demanded the ball, wriggled out of tight spaces and took his side up the pitch served as a reminder why Newcastle wanted to sign him back in August.

Advertisement

But it was always going to take time for Ramsey to cement his place in the most stacked area of the team.

Not only did Ramsey arrive after the season had started – he then went on to sustain an ankle injury on his full debut against Leeds United, which kept him out for six weeks.

The midfielder was left playing catch-up as he adjusted to the intensity, detail and structure of life under Howe.

Though Villa boss Unai Emery is a demanding figure in his own right, Howe’s sapping training sessions took a little while to get used to at first.

Advertisement

But there have not been enough of them in recent months because of the relentless nature of Newcastle‘s fixture schedule.

Ramsey has instead come to rely on analysis debriefs to learn the intricacies of his role – after previously playing on the left under Emery – and the summer arrival has mainly built up an understanding with his team-mates through games.

This “conscientious” figure has impressed Howe with his work behind the scenes while Ramsey feels Newcastle‘s aggressive playing style will ultimately bring out the best in him in his favoured position in the middle of the park.

Ramsey previously noted how many players improved under Howe after sitting down with those closest to him last summer to assess which of his suitors gave him the best chance of one day getting into the England squad.

Advertisement

The wait for a senior call-up goes on, but Howe hopes Ramsey’s first goal for the club proves a “turning point” in his Newcastle career as his side now prepare to face Qarabag for a place in the Champions League last 16.

“There’s nothing better than actually contributing and helping your team win a game,” he added.

“There’s no better way to feel part of the Newcastle family than that.”

Source link

Advertisement
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

“Get married soon, bhai” – Sanju Samson’s hilarious quip on T20 World Cup 2026 star’s popularity

Published

2 minutes ago

on

14 March 2026

By

Team India opener Sanju Samson joked that his batting partner Abhishek Sharma should get married soon so that the other players in the side can also enjoy their share of limelight. The keeper-batter also quipped that the left-handed batter’s popularity made other players in the team jealous of him.

Samson was the Player of the Tournament as India won the T20 World Cup 2026 at home last week. He scored 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.38. Samson ended the ICC tournament with three consecutive fifties, registering scores of 97*, 89 and 89. While Abhishek struggled for the most part, he hammered 52 off 21 in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2026, Samson shared his views on Abhishek‘s massive popularity. In a lighthearted tone, he commented:

“Earlier the boys used to get jealous because of the cheers for Abhishek. It was Abhishek, Abhishek everywhere. We were like, do people only see him or what?”

The 31-year-old then engaged in some fun leg-pulling of the southpaw and urged the youngster to get married soon. Samson added:

“But yes, he is the superstar of the team now. Get married soon, bhai.”

Abhishek began the T20 World Cup 2026 with three consecutive ducks. He scored a crucial 55 off 30 in the Super 8 match against Zimbabwe in Chennai before registering a whirlwind half-century in the final.

“We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire” – Sanju Samson on partnership with Abhishek

Speaking at the conclave, Samson also shared his thoughts on his opening partnership with Abhishek. Describing their combination as fire and fire, the Kerala cricketer stated that they try to keep things pretty simple out in the middle. The 31-year-old elaborated:

Advertisement

“We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. We have that kind of combination going. We have done this since 2024, we have a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes pretty naturally to us, so we do not complicate it. He asks me, ‘How is the ball coming?’ I tell him that the ball is coming normally, hit it for a six. It is really simple with him.

“Abhishek is very brave and collected, I love his character. I really love the partnership with him on and off the field,” the keeper-batter concluded.

Abhishek and Samson got India off to a terrific start in the T20 World Cup 2026 final, adding 98 in 7.1 overs. The partnership was broken when Abhishek was caught behind off Rachin Ravindra. The stunning opening stand paved the way for Team India’s historic triumph.