Manchester City’s injury concerns are easing with the Blues set to welcome back another two players from injury
Pep Guardiola could have Jeremy Doku and Savinho back in time to face Newcastle next week as Manchester City’s injury problems ease. Savinho has been out since New Year’s Day while Doku went down later in the month to leave the Blues short of wide players despite the arrival of Antoine Semenyo.
City were poor in beating League Two side Salford City on Saturday, with Guardiola putting the team’s struggles down to poor build-up and reading of the game. He was adamant that using wingers would have seen a better performance, but didn’t want to overload new signing Semenyo.
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Savinho could have featured after stunning the manager in training this week but it was decided not to throw the Brazilian straight in. He should be in contention for Newcastle though, and Guardiola remains excited by the winger’s potential.
“He’s [been] injured for six to eight weeks, two months is a lot of time,” he said. “He could play a few minutes but we didn’t want to take risks and step by step. Training two days ago with us, it was like wow. He played so good in training. When Savinho will learn to make the finished product in terms of assists, he will be an unbelievable winger on both sides.
“We know how important Doku is to break teams like Salford or teams who defend deep – proper guys who have the ability to drop them and dribbles help us a lot in the way we want to play. I’m more than delighted with how the team behave.”
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Doku has not yet returned to training but is ‘close’ to a return and could also be back as soon as next week. Those two comebacks will leave Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol as the only long-term absentees in the squad, and Guardiola said on Friday that Kovacic is back on the grass as he enters the final stages of his recovery.
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Nov 16, 2025; Madrid, Spain; The NFL logo at midfield is seen prior to the 2025 NFL Madrid Game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Former NFL offensive lineman Tre’ Johnson, an All-Pro with Washington in 1999, died on Sunday during a family trip, his wife posted on social media. He was 54.
“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my husband, Tre’ Johnson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday … during a brief family trip,” Irene Johnson posted on Facebook. “His four children, Chloe, EJ, EZ and Eden, extended family, friends, and I are devastated and in shock.”
Johnson played for the Washington franchise from 1994-2000 and in his final season in 2002 after one year with the Cleveland Browns (three games, all starts) in 2001. He started 72 of the 93 regular-season games he played and both playoff contests, nearly all at guard.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1999 and voted All-Pro second team by the Associated Press that season.
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We’re heartbroken to learn of the loss of former Washington All-Pro guard Tre’ Johnson. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/6Iak2dhYwk
“We’re heartbroken to learn of the loss of former Washington All-Pro guard Tre’ Johnson,” the Washington Commanders posted on the team’s X account. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Born in New York City, Johnson attended Peekskill (N.Y.) High School before playing at Temple. The Washington Redskins selected him in the second round (31st overall) of the 1994 NFL Draft.
Johnson became a high school history teacher at the Landon School in Bethesda, Md., where he also is listed as a coach and mentor on its website. His wife wrote in Sunday’s Instagram post, “His recent battles with health issues forced him to take a leave of absence.”
Barcelona are still very much in charge of LaLiga’s title race, especially so ahead of a trip to Girona in a match that feels like a classic mismatch poised to showcase their dominance in Spain’s top flight. There are questions that loom large for Barcelona, though, especially with Thursday’s defeat to Atletico Madrid still top of mind.
Hansi Flick’s side return to play for the first time since a startling 4-0 defeat to Atleti in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, one in which Atleti unrelentingly exposed Barcelona’s weaknesses – perhaps because those vulnerabilities have been easy to spot over the course of the season. Barcelona’s defensive shakiness has been a defining feature since Flick took over at the start of the 2024-25 season, a frailty usually overcome by a mighty attack. It is an approach that guided them to the domestic double last season but is not foolproof. It may come as little surprise that a team like Atleti could find a way through Barcelona’s porous defense but there have been openings for a wide range of opponents including Club Brugge, who Barcelona tied 3-3 with in the UEFA Champions League, and Slavia Praha, who kept things nervy despite losing 4-2 in the end.
It perhaps comes as little surprise, then, that Flick’s all gas, no breaks strategy is under scrutiny as Barcelona return to league play on Monday. Players reportedly told Flick that he should adjust his tactical preferences occasionally in the wake of the loss to Atleti, according to The AThletic, especially when the likes of Raphinha and Pedri are unavailable to pitch in from an attacking standpoint. Flick, meanwhile, took issue with the players’ intensity levels during the first half.
How to watch Girona vs. Barcelona, odds
Date: Monday, Feb. 15 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Estadi Montilivi — Girona, Spain
TV: ESPN2 | Live stream: ESPN Select
Odds: Girona +600; Draw +470; Barcelona -290
Monday’s trip to Girona may not provide the answer but as the season progresses, Flick once again faces an existential question about whether or not his preferred style has its limits. The visitors will be the oddsmakers’ favorites to take all three points at Girona, in large part because the opponents have their own defensive woes. Girona have conceded 37 goals so far this season, three fewer than the league’s worst team in that regard, Levante, putting them just two points above the relegation zone heading into Monday’s match. They may like their chances against Barcelona’s chaotic back line but even then, Girona are not known for their goalscoring ability – only four teams have fewer than their 22 goals in LaLiga this season.
It makes for a favorable situation for Barcelona, who need a win to restore their one point lead over Real Madrid atop the table. Again, though, they are likely to be understaffed – Marcus Rashford and Pedri are dealing with injuries that will keep them out of Monday’s match, while there are still question marks around Raphinha’s availability. The Brazil international has not played since a win against Elche on January 31 while dealing with a short-term issue, but he did train Friday and could make a much-waited return on Monday.
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How many minutes he will be able to play is currently unclear, though his importance to the team certainly is not. Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski have held down the fort well with 10-plus goals each across all competitions but Raphinha has an oversized impact for Barcelona when he is available. He has 13 goals and five assists in all competitions, a sizable output for someone who has only been able to play 22 games so far this season, almost irreplaceable even though he has spent large chunks of the campaign on the sidelines. Case in point – they have lost just five matches in all competitions this season and Raphinha did not start in any of them, only coming off the bench in one of those matches.
Raphinha’s return will be a welcome one for Flick and company, who will prefer to call upon him as the push for silverware enters its final stages, and serves as a stark reminder that a closely-contested title race could very much be decided by fine margins, something the comeback of an impactful player should be very helpful with.
Collin Morikawa went 45 starts over more than two years to finally win again on the PGA Tour, and he faced a wait that felt just as long on the final hole Sunday in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He kept his poise, hit a 4-iron to the collar of the green and made birdie for a one-shot victory.
In a wild final round of wind and lead changes, Morikawa had the right response for Scottie Scheffler‘s bold charge by making two straight birdies down the stretch, and then making the one that mattered the most — after a 20-minute wait — for a 5-under 67.
He won by one shot over Sepp Straka and Min Woo Lee for his first PGA Tour title since the Zozo Championship in Japan in October 2023.
The timing couldn’t have been better. Morikawa began telling friends this week he and his wife are expecting their first child, and winning was “the best way to announce it to the world.”
Scheffler began the final day eight shots behind and was 7 under through seven holes before the wind began whipping. He had three eagles in his round of 63, the last one a 6-iron to 30 inches on the final hole that allowed him to tie Morikawa for the lead.
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He didn’t think it would be enough, and it wasn’t.
Moments later, Morikawa holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 15th to take the lead. He followed with a 6-iron into 8 feet for another birdie. But a bogey on the par-3 17th — his tee shot was dangerously close to the ocean left of the green — and Lee finishing birdie-birdie for a 65, created another tie.
For all the drama, it was particularly tense on the par-5 18th.
In the group ahead, Jacob Bridgeman needed eagle to have any chance of a playoff and he sent his second shot over the bunker and down to the beach. He finally decided to play off the pebbles and that bounced off the rocks and into the ocean. Then, he moved back to where his ball last crossed the hazard. All the while, Morikawa waited.
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It was 20 minutes from hitting his tee shot to hitting his 4-iron, a wait made longer considering what was at stake and the biting cold of the Pacific wind roaring off the ocean.
“I paced all the way to the ocean 10 times. I just had to keep moving,” Morikawa said. “These long breaks, they’re not good for anyone to stand still. I was able to pull off a great 4-iron, and man, I need a drink.”
(AP)
His 4-iron started over a portion of the water and the wind sent it to the right collar. Morikawa putted that down to a foot. Straka made a 10-foot eagle putt for a 68 before Morikawa tapped in.
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Akshay Bhatia, the 54-hole leader by two shots, made only two birdies over his last 29 holes. He fell out of the lead after four holes and never caught up, closing with a 72 to finish three back.
Scheffler was 10 shots behind after the first day when he shot 72. He was 13 shots back at one point on Friday. He still managed to be a major threat. He wound up in a tie for fourth with Tommy Fleetwood (66), extending his streak to 18 straight PGA Tour starts in the top 10.
“I had to do something special to give myself a chance,” Scheffler said. “The back nine, I felt like I had to get to 21 or 22 (under). I played a bit more aggressive than I normally am. It was a fun day overall. These are the weeks I’m proud of. I felt like I was battling to give myself a chance.”
Among his regrets was a wedge to a back pin on the 15th that was a foot away from spinning back to close range. It hopped hard over the green. He chipped to 6 feet and missed the par putt.
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Morikawa charged his way into the mix with a 62 on Saturday to get within two shots of Bhatia, and he did enough right to stay close — six players had a share of the lead at some point during the final round — until delivering the goods at the end.
The Cal alum won for the seventh time on the PGA Tour since turning pro a week before the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach. Winning at Pebble moves him back into the top 10 in the world.
Morikawa started his weekend charge with a remarkable Saturday 62 in which he actually lost strokes putting, a common theme over the past year for the two-time major winner.
But on Sunday, Morikawa gained 1.6 strokes putting en route to a final-round 67 to win by 1 over Min Woo Lee. He did so with the help of a new Spider Tour X flow neck putter he added to the bag last week. Turns out the prototype putter wasn’t actually made for him.
The putter originally belonged to Kurt Kitayama, who gave it to his brother. Morikawa saw Kitayama’s brother, Daniel, playing with the putter, which also has a unique “back T” alignment aid, and asked to borrow it. He put it in play at the WM Phoenix Open.
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The prototype Spider Tour X flow neck putter that finally got Collin Morikawa back in the winner’s circle.
Turns out this putter was originally built for Kurt Kitayama, who gave it to his brother Daniel and then Collin took it off him. pic.twitter.com/U0LeyfprGn
While the putter finally provided servicable results, Morikawa’s iron game was dialed as he picked up a career-best 6.59 Strokes Gained: Approach in his third-round 62, the best of any round in the tournament’s history, according to stat guru Justin Ray.
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Morikawa has a unique combination set of TaylorMade irons, using the older model P730 blades in his short irons, P7CBs in his 5- and 6-irons and then moving to a PDHY utility iron for his 4-iron.
The PDHY is the highest-launching model in TaylorMade’s utility iron lineup and is rarely used on the PGA Tour. But Morikawa switched to it late last year and used it to hit his crucial approach shot at the 72nd, setting up the winning birdie.
During testing this week, Morikawa found greater consistency in launch and spin with the TP5x compared with his previous TP5. He also found that it cut more easily and was more predictable in high winds, given the lower spin.
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So Collin is truly the gift from the equipment content gods that keeps on giving.
He made a switch from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 60 TX he’s played since 2020 to a newer Diamana WB 63 X last week and used it in Round 1 at Pebble.
Morikawa also switched his driver shaft a week ago in Phoenix, moving from the Mitsubishi D+ Limited 60 TX shaft he has used since 2020 to the newer Diamana Whiteboard 63 X. But the change was short-lived, as Morikawa switched back to the D+ on Friday. He lost nearly .3 strokes off the tee in Round 1 and then gained nearly 3 strokes off the tee the rest of the way.
Keep reading below for Morikawa’s detailed WITB specs.
Collin Morikawa’s winning WITB at the 2026 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Collin Morikawa’s Qi4D LS driver.
TaylorMade
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS 8.0˚ Actual Loft: 8.5˚ FCT Setting: 1 click higher (1.5˚ sleeve) Weights: 15g front, 7g back Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X Length: 45.125’ Tipping: 1″ Swingweight: D3
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TaylorMade Qi4D LS Custom Driver
SHAPED FOR SPEED
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Traditional address shape based on feedback from world-class players helps create confidence on every shot.
Qi4D LS is the lowest spinning option in the Qi4D lineup.
FACE FOR DISTANCE
Qi4D LS drivers feature a new and improved roll radius, yielding more consistent spin across vertical impact locations.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
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4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
The board is back. After a few years away, the vintage surfboard always associated with Diamana™ makes its return with Diamana WB. Built on an extraordinarily popular and tour-proven platform, WB brings classic low-low performance and the legendary stability and control you’ve come to expect after two decades.
The first in the 6th Generation Diamana™ family, WB is designed with all the traditional branding that made Diamana™ so beloved, including flowers in the handle section, a surfboard behind the Diamana logo, and return to the original 53/63/73/83 weight class designations. But rest assured, the only thing throwback about Diamana™ WB is its appearance. Indeed, super high-modulus 80-ton Dialead Pitch Fiber is used in the butt section to deliver maximum stability and increased energy transfer and high modulus 46-ton fiber is used in the shaft’s angle plies to reduce torque without increasing weight for improved control and stability. Carbon fiber orientation at the tip section is optimized to further lower torque.
The classic feel of this Diamana™ profile is achieved through the use of our proprietary Xlink Tech™ Resin System and MR70 technologies. Our Xlink Tech™ Resin System increases the strength and durability of the shaft while driving carbon fiber volume up for better feel. Feel and strength is further increased through the use of our aerospace-grade MR70 fiber – our strongest fiber to date.
Advanced Multi-Material Construction combines the most effective engineering techniques with the finest materials to create one of our longest moveable weight fairways.
The Titanium Qi4D Tour fairway is designed for golfers who seek the ultimate weapon to conquer long par 5s and to thread the needle of the narrowest of tee shots.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
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Utilizing three Trajectory Adjustment System weights (15g x 1 / 4g x 2) provides the golfer the most mass efficient way to adjust shot shape and spin.
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight.
CG OPTIMIZATION
Engineers were able to improve launch without adding spin due to the use of an ultralightweight titanium body and advanced CAD model simulations. This result is a fairway that is easy to launch with incredible distance from any lie.
A large 60g tungsten mass pad moves the center of gravity extremely low and forward, creating a hot trajectory for more distance.
TOUR-PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
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New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade fairway performance.
Twist Face™ features corrective face curvature is designed to provide straighter shots on mishits.
BEST-IN CLASS FEEL
Using Tour feedback and modal analysis we’ve strategically designed mass placement for best in class feel. Crafted using Compact Grain Forging and 2000 tons of pressure to deliver the purest feeling 1025 soft carbon steel possible.
PRECISE CONTROL
Precise milled face and grooves combined with a constant CG the P•7CB is designed to deliver an optimal launch and spin combination for the ultimate control and precision.
CONSISTENCY
Created to maximize accuracy and consistency. The P•7CB optimized perimeter weighting and co-forged tungsten designed to deliver a beautiful blend of stability and workability.
COMPACT TOUR SHAPING
Every aspect of shaping in this iron was intended to meet the needs of discerning ball strikers. A compact blade length and thin topline create a confident, clean look in the playing position while the sole camber and progressive bounce profile provide consistent turf interaction.
Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 (50° SB, 56° LB, 60° TW) Shafts: Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Black Onyx
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TaylorMade Milled Grind 5 Custom Wedge
FORGED FEEL
Incredible feel is a must for having a great wedge game. MG5 has been forged from soft carbon steel and designed with geometry to provide excellent feel with great feedback.
MAXIMUM SPIN
MG5 uses all-new, more aggressive grooves designed to maximize spin. Saw-milled grooves produce tighter tolerances allowing engineers to design steeper walls and sharper radii intended to maximize spin in both dry and damp conditions.
PERFORMANCE IN ALL CONDITIONS
RAW face with Spin Tread technology channels away moisture to help retain spin. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, laser-etched channels redirect water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to maintain spin in wet conditions.
CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CONSISTENCY
Crafted by hand and then milled to perfection. Each wedge and sole grind are precision-milled to eliminate the natural human error that comes with hand polishing. Our grinds deliver unmatched consistency and craftsmanship that players can count on every time.
CHARCOAL FINISH
MG5 debuts a sleek, sophisticated charcoal finish that reduces glare and enhances its aesthetic appeal in the bag.
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X Hosel: Flow Neck Loft: 2.5° Lie: 70° Length: 34.0625’’ Swingweight: D6.5 Sight Line: Back T Insert: Pure Roll Shaft: Black Stepless Grip: Golf Pride Tour Tradition
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TaylorMade 2025 Spider Tour X Black L-Neck Custom Putter
SPIDER TOUR X L-NECK
For nearly two decades Spider putters have been delivering championship-winning stability and performance to professionals and amateurs alike. Scottie Scheffler recently joined this group by stepping into the winner’s circle for the third time in four starts with a Spider Tour X L-Neck in the bag.
TRUE PATH™ ALIGNMENT
Navigate the greens with clarity with the optically-engineered True Path™ Alignment system. This legacy tech from TaylorMade helps you better visualize the line to the hole while also making it easier to aim the putter towards your target.
WHITE TPU PURE ROLL™ INSERT
Experience a softer feel with our White TPU Pure Roll™ insert. Crafted from a blend of Surlyn and aluminum, it features grooves angled at 45° for optimal forward roll and better overall roll characteristics.
PRECISION WEIGHTING AND DESIGN
A thin wall undercut and steel wireframe allow for precision CG placement, creating a superstructure with enhanced stability and forgiveness.
Built on the success of the best Team TaylorMade athletes in the world, TP5x is designed to deliver unparalleled low spin and distance off the tee and world-class feel and control where you need it most around the green.
Microcoating
No two golf balls are the same, but the all-new TP5x sets out to solve an invisible problem through our revolutionary microcoating finish process. Uneven paint and excess pooling in the dimples can compromise distance and accuracy. Microcoating uses precision application technology to ensure uniform coverage across the ball’s entire surface. Click on the video for a deep dive.
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Thinner Than a Human Hair
Microcoating is thinner than a human hair and delivers measurable performance advantages: more consistent ball flight, optimized distance, and tight left-to-right dispersion.
Tour-Level Speed
The reengineered Speed Wrapped Core in TP5x increases the coefficient of restitution (COR) for exceptional ball speed at the top end of your bag.
Full cord. Full firmness. ZGrip is designed for golfers in search of more answers. Our distinct, deep “Z” shaped texture and full cotton cord combine to deliver our firmest grip yet. Get maximum feedback on every shot and confidence in all conditions.
Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson delivered a blunt and telling verdict after his side’s crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup in Colombo, admitting that one fearless innings had effectively decided the contest long before the chase fell apart. Hesson said Kishan’s aggressive approach and rare form proved the decisive difference in the marquee clash, acknowledging that the opener’s brilliance had dismantled Pakistan’s plans on a challenging surface.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I think he’s fearless. He’s able to score on both sides of the ground. So, he’s not just committed to the leg side. We know he’s incredibly strong there, but he can reverse. So, if you’ve got spin, especially in the power play, it can be a challenge,” Hesson said after the match.
Mike Hesson press conference: ‘Ishan took the game away from us’ after India beat Pakistan
Kishan’s breathtaking 77 off 40 balls powered India to 175 for seven, but more importantly, it broke the backbone of Pakistan’s spin-heavy strategy on a slow Premadasa Stadium pitch. He attacked the slower bowlers with authority, scoring 66 runs off 37 deliveries against spin and forcing Pakistan’s bowlers out of their comfort zone.Hesson admitted that pressure created by Kishan forced his bowlers away from their strengths and ultimately changed the course of the match. He noted that apart from Kishan and a brief contribution from Shivam Dube, scoring was difficult, underlining just how exceptional the knock was. “That certainly was a standout amongst the whole match, really. The way Kishan played took the game away from us,” Hesson said.
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Pakistan’s problems deepened in the chase as they collapsed for just 114, never recovering after early wickets. The heavy defeat pushed them to third place in Group A, leaving their qualification hopes dependent on beating Namibia in their final league match.Hesson admitted the loss had hit the team hard emotionally, given the magnitude of the fixture. He said the dressing room was deeply disappointed because the players understood how much the match meant. “We know that it’s a huge event — Pakistan against India. We’ve won five games on the bounce, we’re confident, but today we got outplayed,” he said.Despite the setback, Hesson urged his players to stay composed and respond positively. He emphasised that major tournaments often test teams under pressure and that Pakistan’s challenge now was to trust their decision-making and return stronger. He said the key question was how players reacted when put under pressure, whether they stuck to their basics or moved away from them. According to him, improving that response would be crucial in the matches ahead.
Macclesfield owner Rob Smethurst on piecing his life back together and the Silkmen’s stunning FA Cup run
Tom Victor and Mark Whiley Sports Reporter
07:00, 16 Feb 2026
Rob Smethurst’s life looked completely different when he took ownership of Macclesfield FC in 2020.
The entrepreneur was battling alcohol dependency when he spotted the club’s Moss Rose stadium listed on property website Rightmove and saw it as a signal to pursue a takeover. More than five years later, he’s living the dream.
The Silkmen produced a stunning upset againstFA Cup holders Crystal Palace in the third round in what became the competition’s greatest ever giant-killing. They now have an opportunity to surpass that achievement when they welcome Brentford – presently sitting seventh in the Premier League – in the fourth round.
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Under Smethurst’s stewardship, the on-field success has been remarkable. The phoenix club, formed following the demise of Macclesfield Town, has secured consecutive promotions as they get closer to Football League status.
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The transformation has been equally profound for the owner personally. He has now been sober for four years and attributes the decision he took during the Covid-19 pandemic, acquiring the ground and all available assets in October 2020, for helping him rebuild his life.
“I had a drinking addiction with alcohol and I was probably hiding it away from everybody,” said Smethurst, who describes purchasing the club as an impulsive choice following a “four-day mission”.
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“It was a real issue. I was drinking an awful lot and really going down the wrong path. I was partying a lot… I pushed my family away and I was having very, very bad and dark days. That was when I was sat at home and I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something different here because this is going to end badly’.
“I nearly died through alcohol and I thought, ‘I’ve got to step up and try and make a difference’. When I saw it on Rightmove, I thought, ‘I’ve got to try and change my life’, and there was no better thing really than to buy a football club to do that.”
The responsibility of running a football club has given Smethurst a sense of purpose he’s never had before. His time is now devoted to meaningful tasks, such as supporting the first team’s ambitions while managing the club’s daily operations.
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He believes the acquisition has likely rescued him from a fatal trajectory, while simultaneously offering him a platform to support others battling similar demons, whether addiction, mental health struggles or other challenges.
Smethurst emphasises his availability to anyone at the club seeking assistance, highlighting his role not just as owner but also as a supporter and an integral member of a community that has witnessed its local side resurrect itself and simultaneously boost neighbouring enterprises.
“When you suffer with addiction and myself with ADHD, you’re all over the place,” added Smethurst. “Your head’s constantly looking for the next thing and when you’ve got a football club, there are so many things that happen – within the players, within the management, within all the tactical and technical side of the football and the academies and the Btec programmes that we’ve got.
“So it’s really kept me grounded and really sort of massively focused on doing something. When you’re on those dark days, you really do need that direction and purpose to keep you focused.”
Looking ahead to the Brentford game, he has taken on an additional responsibility. Property portal Rightmove has appointed him as their Chief Belief Officer, a role he has embraced wholeheartedly.
“Friends, family come back,” he said. “I think that’s the one thing addiction does for most people, it will always push people away.
“Going back to the Rightmove story, [the message] is that if you believe in yourself and you believe in a purpose, it’s really important to take that journey and have a go and don’t be scared of moving forward in life.
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“Too many people are afraid to make that next step or they’re too afraid to make a difference, or they might be in a dark place and don’t know how to get out of that.
“So being this Chief Belief Officer for Rightmove, that goes a little bit deeper than just buying a property. It’s actually believing in yourself.”
On the pitch, Macclesfield have been experiencing a dream run that has exceeded even their owner’s wildest expectations. The club has already accumulated nearly £800,000 through prize money and broadcasting revenue, following last season’s progression to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup and this year’s remarkable journey to the fourth round proper.
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That windfall is being ploughed back into the club as they pursue their ambitions of climbing through the divisions. John Rooney has taken charge in the dugout following Robbie Savage’s departure for Forest Green. The 35-year-old younger sibling of former England captain Wayne has presided over a magical cup campaign.
Brentford will arrive fresh from a draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal and Smethurst confesses he’s “scared to death” of Keith Andrews’ team but is dreaming of another shock.
“Who knows what’s going to happen but the reality of it is we’ve won our World Cup already,” he said. “So whatever happens in the next round, the boys will go out there, they’ll have fun and I think that that’s all we can ask for is do your best. And if we lose 15, 20-0, who cares? It’s been great fun.”
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And what if they manage to pull off the unexpected victory? He said: “I promised the lads that we’d go to Ibiza and that might be upgraded to Vegas. Who knows what will happen?
“But I think no matter what happens, we’ve achieved the impossible, we’re against all odds and, if we can do the David and Goliath story again, one more time, then the celebrations will go into the late morning and for weeks to come.”
If you have been affected by this story, contact We Are With You, a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have challenges with drugs, alcohol or mental health.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Ace India batter Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma were spotted leaving Mumbai, captured on camera at the Mumbai Airport. Earlier, on February 12, Kohli was seen arriving in Mumbai, where he posed for pictures with fans and paparazzi.
The following day, images circulated of the couple meeting a few fans in the city. On Monday, February 16, the pair was again spotted at Mumbai Airport as they departed the state following a brief stay.
Watch the clip of the couple below:
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Meanwhile, the 37-year-old will next return to action during IPL 2026, which is expected to begin on March 26. In the 2025 season, Kohli experienced his maiden IPL championship as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed the title, defeating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.
Overall, the right-handed batter remains the leading run-scorer in the tournament’s history, having amassed 8,661 runs in 259 innings at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 132.85, including 63 fifties and eight hundreds, with a best of 113 not out against Punjab Kings in the 2016 season.
“Virat Kohli is an absolute king” – Irfan Pathan urges fans to stop comparing Babar Azam with India star amid T20 World Cup 2026
India and Pakistan faced each other in Game 27 of the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15 in Colombo, with the Men in Blue registering a comprehensive 61-run victory after posting 175. For Pakistan, Babar Azam struggled, scoring just five runs.
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Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel after the game, former cricketer Irfan Pathan stated that comparisons between Babar and Kohli should be stopped. He noted that the Delhi-born star has performed in several high-pressure innings against Pakistan, whereas the Men in Green player has not. He said:
“First of all, stop comparing Babar Azam and Virat Kohli. Honestly, no one should be compared to him. Virat Kohli is a legend (Virat Kohli baap aadmi hai), an absolute king. Just look at the innings he has played against Pakistan. Take, for example, the 2022 World Cup. Has Babar Azam ever played such an innings under pressure?”
Meanwhile, the win against their arch-rivals has helped India qualify for the Super 8s.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, right, and Ishan Kishan celebrate against Pakistan (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
NEW DELHI: India crushed Pakistan by 61 runs to secure a place in the Super 8s stage of the T20 World Cup on Sunday. Ishan Kishan starred with a brilliant 77, helping India reach 175/7, before the bowlers dismissed Pakistan for just 114 in 18 overs.After qualifying, India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his team and said, “I think this is for India,” adding, “Batting first was (the) better option on this wicket.”
Axar Patel press conference: ‘We see them as a team, don’t see rivalry’ after India beat Pakistan
He also praised Kishan’s knock, saying, “Ishan thought outside the box. After we were 0-1, someone had to take responsibility and the way he took it was amazing.”With the win, India have qualified for the Super 8s. Their schedule in the next round includes matches against South Africa, one of Zimbabwe or Australia, and West Indies, as they continue their title defence.India’s matches in Super 8s of T20 World Cup 2026
IND vs SA (Feb 22, Ahmedabad)
IND vs ZIM/AUS (Feb 26, Chennai)
IND vs WI (Mar 1, Kolkata)
However, before beginning their journey in the Super 8s, Team India will play against Netherlands on Wednesday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad On Sunday, Pakistan’s chase fell apart quickly. They lost three wickets in the first two overs, including captain Salman Agha and opener Sahibzada Farhan. When Babar Azam was bowled for five, Pakistan were in deep trouble. Usman Khan tried to fight back with 44, but once he was stumped, the rest of the batting collapsed.Earlier in the match, the two captains again avoided shaking hands at the toss, continuing a pattern seen in the Asia Cup last year. The match itself was confirmed only days earlier after political uncertainty about Pakistan’s participation.Kishan played fearlessly, scoring his fifty in just 27 balls and attacking the bowlers all around the ground. His innings gave India a strong base, and the bowlers made sure Pakistan never came close in the chase.
Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez has established himself back in the first-team at Old Trafford following a serious injury
You only need to cast your mind back to November to fully appreciate how impressive Lisandro Martinez’s return to football at Manchester United has been. After suffering an ACL injury against Crystal Palace back in February 2025, United fans feared they may have seen the last of Martinez’s best days at Old Trafford.
During his time at United, he has picked up serious injuries to his foot and metatarsal. After both of those injuries, he managed to bounce back but Erik ten Hag was no longer in the hot seat and he was returning to a squad which had changed significantly.
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Ruben Amorim was still persisting with the 3-4-2-1 system but now Luke Shaw was available to fill in and was impressing at left centre-back. There was no way the United head coach was going to drop Shaw while his performances levels were so high. It was not as if he could be moved to wing-back to accommodate Martinez either.
But since Boxing Day, the Argentine has started and played the full 90 minutes in every Premier League game. Leny Yoro’s initial drop in form helped Martinez to find a way back into the starting XI and since then, he has not looked back.
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Once Amorim left following the draw with Leeds, Martinez was always going to be the favourite to keep his place in the team. Alongside Harry Maguire, United have found a solid defensive base which they have lacked for much of this season. As for Shaw, with both Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick preferring a four at the back system, he has been able to revert to left-back where he is comfortable.
Even when doubted, Martinez has managed to step up to the plate. He rightly called out Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt’s criticism of him and proved them wrong as he dealt with Erling Haaland to much acclaim.
But he has not let that be a one off. Martinez has continued performing solidly in the heart of the defence as United moved five games unbeaten last Tuesday.
All of this is standing him in good stead to remain at Old Trafford beyond 2027. The defender’s contract will expire at the end of next season and there was a school of thought, not too long ago, which suggested he could be let go.
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An ageing player, who has suffered multiple serious injuries did not exactly standout as an obvious candidate for a contract extension. And yet, despite his exit from United looking inevitable, he has now completely switched the narrative.
‘How can United afford to let him go?’ That is the question now being asked ahead of the summer which could see two experienced heads leave. Casemiro is already gone and Maguire’s future beyond this season is unclear with the Reds having not yet agreed a new deal for him.
Should he depart with the Brazil international, that would be two leaders in the dressing room out of the club. Losing Martinez as well just a year later now seems like a mistake which can be avoided.
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Ask any match-going supporter and you would struggle to hear a bad word said about Martinez. He has the passion and leadership which United have cried out for during the dark times.
Now under Carrick’s watch, Martinez has become a player who can carry this defence and that looked unthinkable a matter of months ago. The 28-year-old is once again part of the furniture at Old Trafford and whoever is the permanent head coach going into next season would be daft not to consider him in their long-term plans.
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The three-year-old colt Autumn Boy is expected to go without blinkers when he kicks off in the Hobartville Stakes, a view shared by star jockey James McDonald.
Saturday saw McDonald aboard for a 1000m solo gallop at Randwick between meetings, with Autumn Boy timing 1:08.25 and finishing with strong strides.
Blinkers aided his Group 1 effort, yet after McDonald conferred post-gallop, Waller plans to strip them for the resumption.
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“We’re probably going to leave the blinkers off,” Waller said.
“James doesn’t think he needs them. We just put them on in the Golden Rose and the [Caulfield] Guineas.
“He’s a very honest horse.”
Waller mentioned the horse’s physical progress during the break, highlighting his easygoing temperament as pivotal.
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Boasting five races only, he has ‘learned to be a racehorse’ as his trainer describes, tackling same-age foes initially via the Hobartville Stakes and Randwick Guineas (1600m), with openness to veterans thereafter.
“There are some good races on offer, and he might get a sniff of racing against the older horses as well, so plenty of tests,” Waller said.
Waller’s Wodeton is nominated too for the Hobartville Stakes, decision pending later this week. Explore the racing betting markets ahead of the Hobartville Stakes.
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![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-400x240.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-80x80.jpg)
