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Leeds United are ready to make an approach for AC Milan's Divock Origi, amid the striker's uncertain future at the San Siro, according to a recent report.

Who could Leeds United sign this summer?

Leeds picked up a vital 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest last night, steering themselves clear of the Premier League relegation zone, however Javi Gracia, should he remain in charge next season, will still be keen to strengthen in the summer window.

A long-term target for the Whites has been Birmingham City midfielder George Hall, and it has recently emerged they conducted another scouting mission to assess the 18-year-old during the Blues' 1-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers last weekend.

Gracia's side may also look to bring in a new centre-back this summer, and they have recently been presented with a new opportunity to sign Paris Saint-Germain youngster El Chadaille Bitshiabu, as the Ligue 1 side are keen to send him out on loan.

Moving onto options in attacking areas, CalcioMercato are now reporting (via Sport Witness), that Leeds are prepared to explore a move for Origi, although they are not the only Premier League team interested in his services.

West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also eyeing moves for the striker, who is said to be open to a return to the Premier League, should the right offer arrive in the summer.

It is not the first time the Whites have been linked with the Belgian, as Marcelo Bielsa is said to have considered a move back in 2020.

Should Leeds United sign Divock Origi?

Leeds will need to bolster their attacking options in the summer, given that Rodrigo Moreno is now 32 years old, and Patrick Bamford has not quite managed to rediscover his form since returning from injury, scoring just one goal in his last ten games.

However, despite being lauded "fantastic" by Jurgen Klopp not too long ago, there are likely to be better options available than Origi, who has scored just two goals in 20 Serie A games so far this season.

The £87k-per-week forward seemingly doesn't make up for his lack of goals in other departments, as he has averaged just a 6.69 match rating from Sofascore, ranking him 22nd in the Milan squad.

The former Liverpool man enjoyed some great moments at Anfield, memorably netting a last-gasp winner against Everton in the Merseyside derby, but we don't feel he is a player that will help take Leeds to the next level.

Tottenham Hotspur could find their next Mauricio Pochettino in Thomas Frank…

Tottenham manager news – Is Thomas Frank in the running?

According to the Daily Record, the Brentford head coach is among the favourites to take over at Spurs in the summer, whilst reports from his home country claim the 49-year-old is set to move to a 'bigger club' ahead of next season.

Now, speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Paul Brown delivered his verdict. He said:

"If they were to go with someone who is not as high profile or hasn't won quite as much in the game as other managers then, I do think Thomas Frank deserves to be in the conversation.

"I think Thomas Frank is one of the best coaches in the Premier League and if you look at this as the first season for a while, where the table pretty much shows you who the best-coached teams are."

Could Frank be Pochettino 2.0 for Spurs?

Two of Tottenham's last three appointments have gone down a similar route, appointing illustrious and trophy-laden managers in the form of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. As we know now, neither went to plan and the north London outfit is the only place where both have failed to win silverware in their coaching careers.

Pochettino was the last person to bring relative success to the club, reaching a Champions League final in 2019 and he regularly had them competing at the highest level, having registered three successive top-three finishes in the Premier League.

It took just one season at Southampton – his first in England – for chairman Daniel Levy to pull the trigger on the Argentine.

Frank is similar in this regard, having caught the eye at a so-called 'lesser' side in the English top-flight, only he's done it across multiple seasons rather than just one. The Dane originally joined the Bees as an assistant coach in December 2016 but was appointed as first-team manager in October 2018 following the departure of Dean Smith.

Back-to-back third-placed finishes in the Championship was finally rewarded with promotion, via the playoffs, in 2021 and in their maiden Premier League campaign, he guided them to 13th. This term, Brentford are currently in ninth and have an outside chance of qualifying for one of UEFA's three European competitions.

During his time at the Gtech Community Stadium, Frank has shown tactical versatility and has made the most of the club's impressive recruitment. Whether it's a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3, the Bees have beaten both defending champions Manchester City, as well as Liverpool this season.

The counter-attacking 49-year-old coach would also drill in a ruthless edge into the side as his current side rank first for aerial duels and goals from set-pieces, as per FBref.

It's perhaps little surprise to have seen him subsequently lauded as "simply extraordinary" and "incredible" by journalist Ryan Taylor and as "special" by former Burnley defender Ben Mee.

In Frank, Levy and co could genuinely find their next Pochettino – someone who would bring an honest and exciting style of football, having impressed in the Premier League at a club outside the usual top six.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be in the “thinking” for the Premier League game vs Crystal Palace this weekend, according to Sean Dyche.

What's the latest injury news on Calvert-Lewin?

The Toffees forward has been extremely injury prone this season having missed a total of 14 games, initially due to a knee injury and now a hamstring problem, as he hasn’t featured in the top-flight since the 1-0 victory over Arsenal on February 4.

Earlier this week, the Blues held a behind-closed doors match at Finch Farm which the 26-year-old participated in to step up his recovery and get vital minutes into his legs, and having come out the other side of that with no reaction and feeling positive, he could finally be ready to stage his comeback when his side travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Dyche confirmed that Calvert-Lewin is now up to speed and is expected to be involved for the relegation showdown vs Palace, whilst also providing a welcome update on the fitness of Amadou Onana. As quoted by Everton’s official website, he said:

"He will certainly be in my thinking, without a doubt. [The behind-closed-doors match on Tuesday] was all about him, really. It was the end of a rehab period so we're very pleased that he came through that and he felt good.

"Ama (Onana) has made a bit more of a recovery. He was training today and we'll see how that reacts tomorrow."

How big is Calvert-Lewin's return?

Calvert-Lewin may have failed to make the impact he would have hoped this season but in general he’s an extremely important player for Everton, having been dubbed a “monster” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so it’ll definitely be a huge boost for Dyche to have him available.

The Sheffield-born talent has clocked up 77 goal contributions (59 goals and 18 assists) in 203 senior appearances on Merseyside and is the ideal target man up top with his height, where the £100k-per-week star was averaging 3.2 aerial wins per top-flight game prior to his absence.

Finally, Calvert-Lewin is a great option for the manager to have at his disposal with the versatility that he adds to the squad, having operated in six different positions since the start of his career, including anywhere across the frontline, so his potential return this weekend can only be a positive for the Toffees.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has seemingly found the formula that has been lacking on Merseyside as the 22/23 campaign approaches the culminating period, with a hard-fought victory over Fulham the Reds' fifth on the trot in the Premier League.

With a torrid term leaving last year's FA Cup and Carabao Cup champions outside the top four and facing a plummet into the Europa League for the first time during a full season under Klopp's wing, this late burst of emphatic form could fail to narrow the gap on Manchester United and Newcastle United and secure what was surely considered the bare minimum at the season's start.

However, league form that only imperious table-toppers Manchester City can rival leaves the Anfield outfit in good stead to pounce on any blunder the above teams might make, with the 1-0 conquering of the Cottagers an encapsulation of the newfound grit.

A thunderous Mohamed Salah penalty was enough to seal the goods, with goalkeeper Alisson yet again sparing his teammates' blushes with a domineering display between the sticks, aided by the rejuvenated efforts of his back-line.

Offensively, there was little to be admired and despite being hailed as "brilliant" by James Pearce for winning the match-clinching penalty, Darwin Núñez endured a tricky evening in the final third.

How did Darwin Nunez play v Fulham?

Given that Nunez won the penalty that led to Liverpool's fifth successive league victory, closing the gulf to just four points on fourth-placed Manchester United, his contribution was technically immense.

However, once again he failed to exert the authority that is expected after his club-record £85m move from Benfica in the summer.

Nunez is a capricious forward with a high ceiling, and while he possesses some of the finest natural movement and physical attributes in the Premier League, his wayward finishing, and questionable decision-making has left many supporters frustrated.

Against Marco Silva's Fulham, this was laid bare once again; Klopp hailed his gem as a "racehorse" for his efforts on Wednesday night, but he was a peripheral figure for much of the affair and failed to channel his energy into an effective threat.

As per Sofascore, Nunez's 6.9 rating was likely inflated due to his penalty win, with a single off-target shot complemented by two failed dribble attempts and a misplaced cross.

The 23-year-old's 28 touches were fewer than Alisson's 43, and having completed just nine of his 17 passes and won two of his nine duels, he failed to grasp his opportunity to impress.

His starting role was only his second from the opening whistle across the past eight top-flight encounters, and with the impressive Cody Gakpo entering the fray in the second half and recording a 7.1 match rating, winning his three duels and succeeding with his two dribbles, he could be ousted immediately.

The £140k-per-week Uruguayan does boast 15 goals and four assists from just 25 starting appearances in Liverpool colours, but he is undeniably the unfinished project and with the final four fixtures crucial for Klopp and co, the "agent of chaos" – as called by Liverpool Echo's Theo Squires – might have played his final starting match of the campaign.

Chelsea are reportedly monitoring Neymar's situation at Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a potential summer move for the Brazilian legend.

Is Neymar leaving PSG this summer?

The 31-year-old has arguably been one of the leading footballers of his generation, not managing to reach the heights of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but sitting in that bracket of truly elite players below them. He is Brazil's record goalscorer of all time, scoring 77 times in 124 caps, while for PSG, he has 118 goals and 77 assists in 173 appearances.

Neymar's current deal at the Ligue 1 giants expires in the summer of 2025, but there has been some speculation suggesting he may depart at the end of the season. Chelsea have been linked with a move for the world-renowned forward, as they look to do some serious business in the summer transfer window.

It is a rumour that is refusing to go away, with the Blues still seemingly eyeing up an audacious move for the attacker, as Todd Boehly looks to work his magic in the coming months.

Could Chelsea make audacious move for Neymar?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are "monitoring" Neymar ahead of a "potential summer move". PSG are thought to be "considering a major squad overhaul in the summer and could look to sell the 31-year-old Brazilian at the end of the season."

Their lack of success in the Champions League is reportedly now becoming a major issue to the point that they are willing to "completely change the direction of the club by selling a number of their superstar players."

That's where Chelsea come into play, with the Blues "particularly interested" in Neymar, even their financial problems "could make a move hard to complete."

There is no denying Neymar's pedigree as a footballer – he has been called "one of the best players on the planet" by PSG boss Christophe Galtier – but Chelsea should avoid moving for him at this stage in his career. At 31, there is an argument to say that his best years are behind him, and he continually picked up more injuries in recent times, too. He was also labelled as a "joy to coach" by Mauricio Pochettino, who could turn out to be the next Blues boss.

Considering the money he would cost, and the wages he would demand, the Blues would be better off signing a younger alternative – someone who can be a mainstay of the team for many years, rather than a quick fix who may produce some magic for a shorter period.

If a move for Neymar came to fruition, it would certainly be exciting for Chelsea given his standing in the game, but it is a move that has too many negatives to it overall.

Liverpool sent scouts to watch Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae in action on Sunday ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Kim to Liverpool?

The South Korean only arrived at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium last summer, but having become a regular feature of Luciano Spalletti’s first-team, starting 33 of the 34 Serie A games this season, has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

The Daily Mail have reported that the Reds, alongside top-flight rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, have all expressed an interest in the 26-year-old, who has a €45m (£39m) release clause included in his contract which is set to be active for the first two weeks of the upcoming transfer window.

However, the 6 foot 3 colossus still has another two years to run on his current deal so should any potential suitors not pay the specified fee in the timeframe mentioned above, the Italian giants have set their increased price tag.

According to 90min, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs and the Red Devils all had officials in attendance to assess Kim during Napoli’s 1-0 victory over Fiorentina on Sunday. The Premier League quartet are all “long-term admirers” of the centre-back, and his side have finally “accepted” that they may have to sanction his sale this summer.

The Serie A defender’s £39m release clause will be “difficult” to reach for any club considering the regulations surrounding Financial Fair Play, but it’s stated that his side would “find it hard” to turn down any offers that arrive at their door “in excess” of €60m (£52m).

Should Liverpool submit an offer for Kim?

Liverpool clearly hold a strong enough interest in Kim to deploy scouts to watch him live, and having been dubbed an “iron barrel” by Napoli teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and "sensational" by BBC pundit and former Red Danny Murphy, FSG should certainly consider testing the water by tabling a bid in the weeks ahead.

The World Cup and Champions League participant currently averages 3.6 clearances and 2.8 aerial wins per league game alongside recording a 90.8% pass success rate, as per WhoScored, which would rank him the second-highest for completion among the regular features of the current squad on Merseyside.

Kim, who also has the versatility to operate at right-back alongside his natural position in the heart of the backline, is additionally capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch having scored two goals and provided the same number of assists this season, so is a double threat with his difference-making in both halves.

Eoin Morgan said he had “never seen anything like it” as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the second ODI at Edgbaston

George Dobell at Edgbaston24-Jun-2016Eoin Morgan said he had “never seen anything like it” as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the second ODI at Edgbaston.Morgan, England’s captain, hailed an “absolutely remarkable” unbroken opening stand of 256 – a record for any wicket for England in ODI cricket – as Alex Hales and Jason Roy both recorded unbeaten centuries and career-best ODI scores. It is the highest total overhauled by a 10-wicket margin by any side in the history of ODI cricket.”That chase was absolutely remarkable,” Morgan said. “I’ve never experienced anything like it. We were so in control without being reckless. The two boys were outstanding. They were very imposing and they played brilliant, very entertaining cricket.”But both Roy and Morgan also praised England’s bowlers for a much-improved performance that kept Sri Lanka to a total that could have been as much as 100 under par on an excellent batting surface.”I said after Trent Bridge that we were way-off with the ball,” Morgan said. “Here, I didn’t think we did anything exceptional, but we did the basics well. It didn’t swing or nip off the seam and there are always huge challenges in one-day cricket when that doesn’t happen.”But we starved them of runs. We banged out a length and we used our bouncers well. We built pressure that way which resulted in us taking wickets. It was brilliant.”It was a lesson for us last year when we played against Australia. They are a really good at doing that and we picked up that we needed to be better at it.”Roy, who celebrated his first international century in England, agreed. “The bowlers kept Sri Lanka to a total where we didn’t feel under a huge amount of pressure going out there,” he said. “So a huge amount of credit must go to them.”The victory not only gave England a 1-0 lead in the series, but an unassailable 13-3 lead in the Super Series. It left Morgan reflecting on England’s fortune in escaping with a tie from the first ODI in which they played “poorly” in his words.”I emphasised after that game that it was our get out of jail free card,” Morgan said. “We played very poorly as a team, but a few individuals performed exceptionally well and did enough that we went unscathed. A six off the last ball doesn’t happen very often.”Angelo Mathews, the Sri Lanka captain, admitted it was a “disappointing performance” from his side’s batsmen but suggested they must “forget about it as quickly as possible” with another ODI looming on Sunday.”Simply we didn’t get enough runs on the board for our bowlers to get them out,” Mathews said. “It was a belter of a wicket. 256 was below par; 300 is a must on that wicket. It played brilliantly. It was a little bit slow in the first half but it got better and better so we fell short by 50 or 60 runs.”We have to try to flush it out of the system and forget about this game as quickly as possible because we’ve got only one day to come back and play pretty well.”Our batsmen are in good nick and unfortunately they get 20s and 30s and getting run out is absolutely not on. And it is unfortunate that it has been happening the last two games and hopefully we can run well in the next three games and not give run outs to the opposition.”He was also full of praise for the England batsmen. “They are explosive openers and if you give them a chance then that’s what they can do; they can destroy any attack and unfortunately we didn’t have the penetration today. Jason and Alex batted brilliantly to get them home.”

Tottenham Hotspur are making "concrete moves" to sign star Roma defender Roger Ibanez, according to reports out of Italy.

What's the latest Spurs transfer news?

The north Londoners are still identifying summer transfer targets, despite the lack of both a permanent manager and sporting director.

Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici both recently departed Spurs with chairman Daniel Levy on the hunt for their respective replacements.

Benfica talent-spotter Rui Pedro Braz is said to be attracting major interest from N17, meanwhile the Lilywhites have also completed the due-diligence stage of their manager search – holding interviews with both Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique (Evening Standard).

In terms of players, there are a few who remain heavily linked with joining Spurs. Leicester City star James Maddison, for instance, is viewed as a prime target for the club and reports suggest Levy is pushing to get a deal done behind-the-scenes.

Tottenham are also looking to bolster their defensive ranks, leading to interest in Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, with Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres also being targeted according to recent claims.

As well as La Liga and the Premier League, it is believed Levy could also look to Serie A for defensive reinforcements, as Spurs take a fondness to Ibanez.

According to newspaper La Repubblica, via giallorossi.net, Tottenham, Newcastle and Atletico Madrid are all eyeing a move for the 24-year-old.

It's added that all three sides are making "concrete moves" for Ibanez, with Spurs officials even attendance to run the rule over him last Saturday.

Jose Mourinho's side named a valuation for their star defender – which is set at around £26 million – as his contract is set to expire the season after next.

What could Ibanez bring to Spurs?

The central defensive ace has dazzled under Mourinho overall this campaign – ranking as their fourth-best Serie A performer by average match rating according to WhoScored.

Ibanez also stands out in key defensive stats, making more interceptions per 90 than any other Roma player domestically, with Chris Smalling being the only teammate to eclipse him in terms of clearances made (WhoScored).

Only Bryan Cristante has averaged more tackles per 90 than the Brazilian – not to mention he boasts the highest pass accuracy (88%) of any Roma regular (WhoScored).

Former Roma fullback Vincent Candela even recently claimed he can become "one of the world's best defenders" – though he needs to work on his concentration.

Manchester United took a giant stride toward securing a top-four finish with victory away to AFC Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, with an early stunner from Casemiro ultimately proving enough for Erik ten Hag's men.

While United have been made to wait in their bid to seal Champions League qualification following Liverpool's late equaliser away to Aston Villa, the Red Devils now only need a point from their remaining two Premier League games to clinch their place in Europe's elite competition.

That vital win over the Cherries was certainly not plain sailing, however, with Ten Hag likely to be concerned at his side's inability to go on and get a killer, second goal which would have made life far easier.

Those attacking woes were laid bare by the shortcomings of £73m man, Jadon Sancho, with the struggling asset having now gone five league games without providing a goal or an assist, despite showing "glimpses" against Gary O'Neil's men – as per journalist Josh Bunting.

The former Borussia Dortmund man was perhaps unsurprisingly hooked late on in favour of Alejandro Garnacho, albeit with the Englishman having still laid on two key passes in his 72-minute outing, while also completing all four of his attempted dribbles as well as winning 100% of his ground duels.

That respectable record – which earned the 23-year-old a solid 7.2 match rating, as per Sofascore – ensured that he still enjoyed a better day than teammate Antony on the opposite flank, with the Brazilian trickster enduring a truly frustrating outing.

How did Antony perform against Bournemouth?

While the former Ajax ace did look sharp in last weekend's win over Wolverhampton Wanderers – having registered an assist for Anthony Martial's opener – the wide man was unable to maintain that momentum this time around, with his 6.9 match rating the lowest of any starting United player, according to Sofascore.

As GOAL's Richard Martin stated, the 23-year-old 'looked confident but once more had very little end product', having lost possession on 11 occasions from his 68 touches, while also laying on just one key pass.

The mercurial left-footer was also criticised for being too 'casual' in the second half – in the words of Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst – while also being branded "really poor" by The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell after losing possession in the build-up to a chance for David Brooks just after the interval.

That "blasé attitude" – as per Whitwell – may well have irked Ten Hag with the game having still been firmly in the balance, with it fair to say that the £200k-per-week man's perceived lack of effort could have potentially cost the Red Devils .

As it proved, the Old Trafford outfit held on to ensure that they are now all but certain of a place in the top four, with Antony needing to count himself lucky that his errant performance didn't impact proceedings too greatly.

An attendance of 27,119, a domestic record for Twenty20 cricket in the UK, watched a thrilling Middlesex victory over Surrey

Vithushan Ehantharajah at Lord's21-Jul-2016
ScorecardEoin Morgan’s 42 helped Middlesex beat local rivals Surrey•Getty ImagesA thrilling match, in front of a record crowd, broadcast on TV and with the very best on show taking star turns. The T20 Blast has not always been able to get all those ingredients into the same pot. But tonight, everything seemed to fall into place.The attendance of 27,119 is now a domestic record for Twenty20 cricket in the UK. Lord’s also happens to hold the record for an international, too, when the 2009 World T20 final reeled in over 28,000. There were a couple factors that threatened today’s record.Severe delays on the Jubilee Line had some punters thinking twice about joining the clammy rush-hour scrum to St John’s Wood. The walk from Baker Street station, normally a leisurely stroll past some of Sherlock Holmes’ old watering holes, was a steady stream of fans frog-marching cooler bags along the westerly brim of Regent’s Park. Middlesex’s own form, too, might have encouraged some diehards to stay away to avoid the gloating bellows of their rivals from south London, who had enjoyed a six-game winning streak at Lord’s before the tables turned last season.But just as bigger steps cut down the 20-minute walk, signal failures rectified from Bond Street, and the opening of the Warner Stand (roof still to be attached) increased the potential for a bumper crowd, so too did Middlesex’s rediscovered knack of winning short form games. There is a marked difference to the way they are now approaching Twenty20 cricket.Dawid Malan, following his appointment as white-ball captain, has ensured that elements of Middlesex’s T20 plans are now player-led. That his side triumphed tonight by chasing down a target of 197, with plenty left in the tank, while he, their leading run-scorer in the competition, was slapping Sri Lanka A about for 185 off 126 balls, says it all. With bat and ball, this was a free-form T20 performance that sees them jump to third in the south group, with 13 points from 11 played.It is worth starting with the chase of 197, done with five balls and as many wickets to spare. Paul Stirling could not have hit a more Paul Stirling 34: cover drives played with a savagery rarely associated with the shot while also finessing a back-of-a-length ball over backward square leg for a dainty six. Eoin Morgan, pushed up to three, then clobbered 42 off 24 balls, which included putting Azhar Mahmood on the roof of the Grandstand. Rarely one for holding the pose or a lingering gaze, even he looked on wistfully at his own majesty.In the last two months, Morgan has played to 50,000 in a World T20 final at Eden Gardens, stepped out at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the IPL and then, in his opening T20 Blast fixture, batted on a school ground. A lot is made of Morgan’s appetite for English domestic cricket, but who can blame him when life outside it sees him on Broadway. He showed today what keeps him going – a challenge, an atmosphere, a prize to be won. Never mind attracting overseas stars, it’s imperative to have a competition that motivates your own.He departed in the 11th over, one which started with 85 needed from 60 balls. With 30 balls left, that had been chopped down to 37, thanks to a brisk partnership between George Bailey (50) and John Simpson (43 from 26) that was eventually broken for 67. By then, the ask was simply 10 from 14.Quite how Surrey failed to breach 200, having smashed 80 for none off the first six overs, was a mystery. Once Jason Roy departed at the beginning of the eighth over, for a thrill-a-ball half-century which took just 24 deliveries, the constant fear of boundaries subsided. The 10 overs that followed the Powerplay saw just 74 scored. Surrey’s middle order has long been a problem area masked by the dashers up top. For them to evolve as a T20 force, it needs addressing.It was the introduction of legspinner Nathan Sowter that shored Middlesex up, allowing them to retain respectability in the field. Coming on in the seventh over, he returned figures of two for 29 from his four overs: a back-of-the-hand delivery slowing up on Steven Davies, who skewed a drive to gully before Rory Burns, stuck in a rut, top-edged a sweep to John Simpson.The main squeeze came between the 11th and 16th overs as Sowter and Ryan Higgins bowled in tandem for a five-over period that saw 33 runs and just one boundary conceded. Higgins is an interesting case: primarily a batsman, he found himself bowling a few overs here and there during preseason and in the warm-up Twenty20 matches. It was in these fixtures that he surprised coaches and Middlesex’s analyst with his ability to seemingly bowl yorkers at will.Today was the first time that Middlesex really put his newly discovered talents to the test. Initially, his three overs went for just 17 runs – none of them from boundaries. But when Harry Podmore was removed from the attack after a second waist-high full toss, he returned to bowl the remaining five balls of the penultimate over. The first delivery hit straight over his head and into the members by Chris Morris. The very next was caught at midwicket for his first wicket in the T20 Blast. He was the only bowler that restricted Finch to less than a run a ball.The individual to benefit most from the squeeze was James Fuller, whose spell at the death, which returned 2 for 14 – he took 2 for 3 in the 20th over – helped offset a catastrophic opening burst that saw him concede 29 from his opening two overs.Surrey’s destiny is now out of their hands. Winning their remaining games will help, but without the goodwill of others, they face another season of T20 disappointment.