Bruno Fernandes can go one step further if Manchester United give him the dream midfield partner

Bruno Fernandes can look to break his own Premier League assists record next season thanks to Kobbie Mainoo.

The Manchester United captain made history against Brighton on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign by claiming a record-breaking 21st league assist. Fernandes’ corner was headed home by Patrick Dorgu in the 33rd minute to give Michael Carrick’s side the lead.

But it was clearly more important than any regular goal to the United players as they mobbed their skipper, who had been tied with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne on a record 20 assists beforehand.

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Fernandes’ milestone capped off an incredible individual campaign alongside playing a crucial role in the team securing Champions League qualification again, with his heroics clinching the Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

And yet there is still scope for the 31-year-old to do better next season. Fernandes’ best form this term came when sharing the field with young midfielder Mainoo, who missed the majority of the season while Ruben Amorim was still in charge.

Amorim oddly shunned the Englishman throughout his Old Trafford tenure but Mainoo enjoyed a resurgence under interim boss Carrick from January onwards. With Mainoo on the pitch, Fernandes recorded a whopping 17 assists.

He incredibly notched 12 assists in 16 games when Mainoo started, showing how fruitful the partnership will be for United again across a full season, despite an expected summer of midfield incomings.

Mainoo’s regular involvement will be crucial if Fernandes hopes to stand a chance of shattering the record he set just last month next term.

Astonishingly, Fernandes’ assists fell drastically when Mainoo was not on the pitch to just four. That again shows Fernandes is most effective when playing alongside the deeper Mainoo, who was misprofiled as a No.10 by Amorim previously.

The 21-year-old is expected to play an important role again next campaign due to the permanent appointment of Carrick.

There is, of course, the caveat that around half of the goals set up by Fernandes in the league came from corners. Nevertheless, should the duo start the full 38 games together next term, the Portugal international is projected to exceed even 21 assists.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Texas A&M continues to collect postseason recognition even after its playoff exit, and this time one of the youngest Aggies is in the spotlight. On Monday, true freshman third baseman Nico Partida was named to the Freshman All‑American First Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), adding another major accolade to his breakout debut season.

After the Aggies reshuffled the infield following the 2025 campaign, Partida seized the starting third‑base job from day one an important development that allowed Gavin Grahovac to shift to first base, a preseason concern for the coaching staff. Partida not only stabilized the position but thrived in it, remaining a fixture in the lineup until suffering an injury late in the year.

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That injury ultimately derailed his chances at national Freshman of the Year, but up to that point he was widely viewed as a frontrunner. He earned Perfect Game’s Midseason Freshman of the Year, received an invitation to the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp, and was named to the Freshman All‑SEC Team.

The numbers back up the praise. In 49 games, Partida slashed .306/.408/.550 with 55 hits, eight doubles, 12 home runs, and 43 RBI. He recorded 17 multi‑hit games and 12 multi‑RBI performances, highlighted by a dominant outing against Georgia in which he tallied four hits, six RBI, and a grand slam.

Nelly Korda won the biggest title of her career over the weekend, besting the field at Riviera Country Club for a one-shot victory at the U.S. Women’s Open. But unlike so many of the victories in her career, she did not look totally in control of her swing throughout the week.

Her stubbornly uncooperative swing was apparent during her opening round of the championship on Thursday afternoon as she posted a two-over 73. In that opening stanza, Korda lost strokes to the field with her approach play — a rarity for one of the best ball strikers in the game.

“I hit it really good Monday through Wednesday, so I have honestly no idea where this came from,” she said. “So I’m going to go to the range.”

Joining her on the range was her sister, six-time LPGA winner Jessica. And as the duo searched in the dirt for the missing ingredient in Korda’s swing, Jessica noticed something. Her sister’s grip was looking a little weak, with her trail hand creeping too much on top of the shaft. In an effort to correct it, she suggested strengthening her grip and putting that trail hand a little more underneath the shaft.

Grip changes are some of the most difficult tweaks you can make to your golf swing, and most pros avoid them at all costs. When you are used to holding the club a certain way, even the slightest adjustment can send you spiraling, and it can change delivery dynamics pretty aggressively if not done correctly. But after the poor performance in Round 1, Korda decided to give it a shot.

“I just kind of keep laying it off at the top,” Kords said. “It felt super funky today, but I just trusted and went with it.”

The results were immediately evident. In Round 2, Korda’s iron play returned to its previous form. She gained over a shot on the field with her approach play, posting a 67 to get herself right back in the mix. She matched that number on Saturday to share a piece of the 54-hole lead, and headed into the final round in prime position to claim the title she craved most.

“I think the grip change is one of the hardest things to do,” Korda said in a TV interview after her round. “The trust level is definitely high with [Jessica]. I know I can always count on her. She’s been there through my warmups and warm downs almost every single day, so she’s been a great support system.”

The mid-tournament grip change was a risky move, and as a fellow professional golfer, Jessica knew how uncomfortable the adjustment must’ve been. Shortly after finishing off her one-shot victory, Korda met with the press and shared that Jessica “could barely sleep” from the thought of ruining her sister’s swing with the advice.

In the end, the risky move paid off. Korda posted a final-round 69 on Sunday to hold off the charging Charley Hull and Gabby Lopez, adding the biggest bullet point to her hall-of-fame-worthy resume.

Stephen Holt (right) and Ginebra went on a hot start that Rey Nambatac and TNT could not overcome. —PBA IMAGES

The TNT Tropang 5G fully understand what it takes to beat Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals—Game 3 of the best-of-seven series proved them right again.

But there’s a difference between knowing and doing something about it.

The Gin Kings went on another hot start and then fought off their opponents’ attempts to rally en route to a 2-1 series edge.

“That’s the biggest problem when you face Ginebra,” Roger Pogoy told the Inquirer after their 116-102 loss at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. “If they start strong and build a big lead, it’s hard to catch up, so you should stick to them to have a bigger chance of winning.”

According to Pogoy, once you allow Ginebra to go on those fast first-quarter starts, you basically dug your own grave.

And on Sunday, that’s what the Tropang 5G did. They fell behind, 35-16, after 12 minutes of action as Stephen Holt fueled the Ginebra’s burst with 15 of his 23 points coming in the first period.

Pogoy tried to rally TNT—he finished with 28 points—but the Tropang 5G couldn’t climb out of the early hole, which went as deep as 22 points at one point.

“We can’t afford to have Ginebra start like that. We’ve faced them a lot in the Finals, and it’s proven that every time they start well, they just keep on going,” Rey Nambatac said, echoing Pogoy’s sentiments.

“That’s the kind of lapses that we should minimize in Game 4 and this series. Hopefully, we find a way to adjust for that.”

After playing well in the first two games of the series, Nambatac was held scoreless in Game 3.

Much of his struggles came because he was in foul trouble early in the game. He finished with five fouls in a limited 17-minute performance. He was averaging 14.5 points per game before Game 3. INQ

The ref was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup

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Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson during Game 3 vs TNT Tropang 5G in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –PBA IMAGES

Scottie Thompson’s triple-double in Barangay Ginebra’s Game 3 victory over TNT had a lot of “first since” written all over it.

Thompson finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the Gin Kings’ 116-102 win at the Mall of Asia Arena, recording the 12th triple-double of his PBA career.

According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, Thompson became the first player since teammate Justin Brownlee to reach 12 career triple-doubles. More significantly, he is the first local player to record at least 12 career triple-doubles since PBA great Ramon Fernandez achieved the feat in the 1980s.

It was also the league’s first triple-double since Brownlee posted one in Game 6 of the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup Finals against guest team Bay Area.

Thompson’s all-around effort helped Ginebra seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 3 also saw Thompson become the 103rd player in PBA history to score 5,000 career points after converting a layup midway through the opening quarter.

Still, Thompson’s milestones took a back seat to the performances of Stephen Holt and Brownlee. Holt snapped out of an offensive slump to score 23 points, while Brownlee erupted for 41 to power the Gin Kings.

“I got to tip my cap to our players,” coach Tim Cone said. “It was the third game in five days, but we basically only played five or six guys in heavy minutes. They really dug deep, knowing this could be a pivotal game in the series.

“A lot of things happened for us and we’re pleased to come away with the victory,” Cone added, while also praising RJ Abarrientos for his floor leadership.

Abarrientos scored 15 points and added five rebounds and six assists. He also hit a crucial four-point play against TNT import Chris McCullough that helped blunt the Tropang 5G’s fourth-quarter rally.

McCullough finished with 44 points in the loss, putting him on the other side of another statistical rarity.

Mangonon noted that Brownlee and McCullough became the first opposing players to score at least 40 points each in a PBA Finals game since Alaska import Ron Riley and Purefoods import Derrick Brown did so in 2002.

Riley scored 43 points while Brown had 45 in Alaska’s 106-102 double-overtime victory in Game 2 of the Governors’ Cup Finals. inq

Watch the best of the action as Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise scores a hat-trick in France’s 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in their final World Cup warm-up match in Lille.

MATCH REPORT: Olise scores hat-trick in France World Cup send-off win over Northern Ireland

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England cricket captain Ben Stokes is facing removal from the Test squad after breaching team protocols in a nightclub incident alongside teammate Gus Atkinson.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Monday evening that the pair became embroiled in an incident in the early hours while celebrating Sunday’s victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.

It is understood that the timing contravened the team’s midnight curfew, which remained in effect despite the match’s conclusion, with suggestions of further breaches.

Reports linking the incident to players from Saracens have led the Gallagher Premiership club to launch an investigation.

The ECB is also conducting an internal inquiry to clarify the exact circumstances, and the matter has been referred to the Cricket Regulator. No further details have been made public.

An ECB statement read: “The ECB is investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand.

“Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday when an incident took place.

“We are seeking further information and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.

“The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible.”

In the short term, it seems highly likely that both players will lose their places in the squad for the second Test, which starts at the Kia Oval on June 17.

Beyond that, Stokes may need to persuade his employers that he can still hold the office of captain.

The ECB has been at pains to show that lessons have been learned from the winter, with their troubled Ashes tour marred by accusations of unprofessionalism and excessive drinking.

Harry Brook, Stokes’ vice-captain and a candidate to lead in his expected absence, narrowly held on to his role as white-ball skipper after it emerged he was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington immediately prior to the Australia tour.

The Saracens statement read: “We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens on Sunday evening.

“The club is currently establishing the full facts and is in contact with the relevant authorities and individuals involved. Once this process is complete, the matter will be reviewed and addressed appropriately.

“We will make no further comment at this time.”

The reports will come as a further embarrassment to England head coach Brendon McCullum, who has defended his players over previous incidents, but conceded in the wake of the 3-0 T20 series win over Sri Lanka in February that players had to be responsible for their own behaviour.

McCullum said: “If you go back to the day I walked into the job, the first thing I said to these boys is don’t do anything that lands you on the front page of the paper and nothing good happens after midnight, but we’re going to have a good time.”

Throughout the summer in OTAs and training camp, the 90 Vikings compete for 53 coveted roster spots and another 16 on the practice squad. Last week, the franchise ended the roster spot chase of a sophomore receiver, who, on paper, looks like an absolute stud.

In his first move with the team, new GM Nolan Teasley adjusted the depth of the receiver position. He signed Michael Briscoe and Trayvon Rudolph. To make room for them, Teasley waived Joaquin Davis, an undrafted rookie from 2025.

Davis initially joined the Vikings in December and the practice-squad player signed a futures contract after the season. After a few practice sessions this summer, the decision-makers have seen enough and showed him the door, despite his prototypical athletic profile.

Davis signed with the Broncos after going unclaimed in the 2025 draft and turned heads throughout the offseason and in training camp. It helps to possess a Randy Moss-like body at 6’4″ and 195 lbs with 4.3 speed. Unfortunately, that doesn’t guarantee anything in the big leagues, as there’s more to playing wideout than size and speed.

The technical aspects seemingly remain a work in progress.

NFL draft scout Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft profile, “Height, length and speed are all check marks in Davis’ favor. His rare blend of length, elite speed and foot quickness will be enticing to a team late in the draft or as a priority free agent. He’s still very unrefined as a route-runner and needs to improve his play strength and catch consistency. While there are issues to work through, his ability to separate and stretch the field creates an intriguing ceiling.”

Now that he’s off the team, the Vikings will continue to evaluate their depth receivers to form the best group behind the elite trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings. That group might be the best in the business and unites Jefferson’s technique, Addison’s playmaking ability, and Jennings’ size.

Behind them, the club employs sophomores Tai Felton and Myles Price, who have starred on special teams but barely contributed on offense. Undrafted rookie Dillon Bell has turned some heads in OTAs and could be a player to watch.

Davis was that guy for the Broncos last year, but it hasn’t translated so far.

Broncos reporter Andrew Mason posted on social media last July, “Joaquin Davis, if the Broncos can give him time, could really be something special. The ball just sticks in his hands. Like Velcro when it hits. His wingspan, his stride, his vertical, his speed … man, this dude has some tools. The NCCU product has got serious potential.”

Further competing for roster spots are undrafted rookies Luke Wysong, Marcus Sanders Jr., and Terrill Davis, as well as 2025 practice-squad receiver Dontae Fleming. We’ll get to see more from them in training camp and the preseason.

Davis won’t be the last athletic marvel to discover that the NFL is about more than size and speed. The tools that once made him an intriguing prospect are still there, but they weren’t enough to convince the Vikings to keep him around.

As training camp approaches, Minnesota’s receiver competition rolls on without him, and another player will get the opportunity Davis couldn’t turn into a roster spot.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt