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Harvey Elliott became the youngest player in Premier League history at 16 years and 30 days old when he came on for Fulham in their 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Saturday.
Midfielder Elliott, born on April 4, 2003, came on for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa two minutes from time to set the record, previously held by another Fulham player. Matthew Briggs was 16 years, 65 days when he featured in Fulham's 3-1 defeat at Middlesbrough in May 2007.
Fulham caretaker boss Scott Parker named Elliott on the bench for the club's wins over Everton and Bournemouth and previously said he would have no hesitation in playing him in the Premier League.
"If I feel the time is right or I need Harvey, what he can bring to the match, I have no qualms about putting him straight in," Parker said before Fulham's 1-0 win over Cardiff on April 27, the club's third victory in a row.
"But it won't be putting Harvey in because of a sentimental thing it will be putting him in because he deserves to go in and we need him to go in because he can show his quality and give us something we have not got at that moment in time."
Elliott came on as a substitute in Fulham's 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Millwall back in September, becoming the club's youngest ever player at 15.
Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes was the first player born this century to play in the Premier League when he came on against Crystal Palace on May 21, 2017. The attacking midfielder was born on August 31, 2000.
Top three youngest Premier League players ever
1. Harvey Elliott, 16 years and 30 days, Wolves 1-0 Fulham -- May 4, 2019.
2. Matthew Briggs, 16 years and 65 days, Middlesbrough 3-1 Fulham -- May 13, 2007.
3. Isaiah Brown, 16 years and 117 days, West Brom 2-3 Wigan -- May 4, 2013.
Fulham's 1-0 defeat at Molineux on Saturday was academic, with the club already relegated from the Premier League.
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George Rhodes ton keeps Worcestershire in pursuit of knockouts, ends Yorkshire interest
Published in
Cricket
Saturday, 04 May 2019 10:33
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Worcestershire 293 for 7 (Rhodes 106, Cox 87, Patterson 4-45) Yorkshire 143 (Parnell 5-25, Barnard 3-26) by 150 runs
Steve Rhodes might have left Worcestershire in unfortunate circumstances when he was sacked as director of cricket in late 2017, but his son George remained to prove his mettle and that decision was rewarded against Yorkshire with a maiden List A hundred which laid the foundations for a 150-run hammering.
Rhodes is now coach of Bangladesh, his failure immediately to tell Worcestershire's hierarchy about a rape investigation into Alex Hepburn, who was jailed for five years this week, now behind him. When he arrives in England with Bangladesh for the forthcoming World Cup, it will be with the knowledge that George has improved his chances of continuing his county career when his contract expires at the end of the season.
George Rhodes teamed up with Ben Cox in a Worcestershire record stand for the fifth wicket in List A cricket - 169 in 28 overs, which rescued them from the perils of 62 for 4. Pessimistic judges were talking of an eventual score of 200 on a nibbling and used pitch, but they finished with 293 for 7. Cox, back from illness, was his usual spritely self in a stand bubbling over with good running, but if Yorkshire had had the enterprise to post a slip when Duanne Olivier returned for a second spell, he might have fallen on 29. Instead, he was 87 from 86 balls when he flat-batted Steve Patterson to long-on.
Yorkshire never challenged after that. Wayne Parnell, bowling at times with impressive pace, took his second five-wicket haul of the week after his 5 for 24 against Nottinghamshire. He dismissed the Yorkshire top three and ended with 5 for 25 from seven overs.
Worcestershire, who now have five wins in seven, still need to beat Derbyshire in their final match in Derby on Monday to be sure of a top-three finish. They could potentially top the North Group for the third successive year, which would be a wonderfully consistent return for one of the smaller counties; Steve Rhodes had a sizeable hand in that. Yorkshire are eliminated.
George is the third generation of Rhodes to play county cricket and since his debut in 2016 (also against Yorkshire) he can rarely have played with the freedom he exhibited in the latter stages of his 106 from 111 balls. Patterson, Yorkshire's angular seamer, had conceded 22 off his first eight overs, but 23, including a leg bye, came off his next as Rhodes showed both invention by lapping the bowler to fine leg and then power with a hearty blow over midwicket.
An uppish push through the covers, off Olivier, brought up that 100, his first in any of the three formats in a so-far moderate career. He survived a bear hug from Parnell, but was bowled by Pillans attempting something outrageous to the last ball of the innings. At 25, he will need a few more interventions like this for Worcestershire to retain faith. He would have been unlikely to play had not Daryl Mitchell sat out the match with a back injury.
Rhodes survived a few half chances along the way: a drive at Patterson, on 9, which just fell short of deep cover and would have left Worcestershire 69 for 5; a reprieve at backward point on 57 when he advanced to Josh Poysden's legspin, a tough chance this for Mat Pillans; and another demanding half-chance to Tim Bresnan at deep midwicket on 62, one of three successive boundaries against Poysden.
Yorkshire's restructured attack lacks pace and does not invite confidence for the months ahead, but a responsive New Road surface gave them hope. Patterson took three in his opening spell, Riki Wessels driving to cover, a failed leg-side loft by Tom Fell and a good catch at backward point by Gary Ballance to silence Brett D'Oliveira. There was a wicket, too, for Bresnan, who cuts a companiable figure these days, but whose sedate nip-backer took the vital wicket of Callum Ferguson.
Yorkshire rattled up 46 in nine overs easily enough but Parnell's introduction brought a rapid capitulation - a bottom edge from Adam Lyth, a duck for Harry Brook and Tom Kohler-Cadmore bowled through the gate against his former county. Ed Barnard then darkened Yorkshire's mood. Worcestershire's only vulnerable bowler was Pat Brown, last season's stand-out bowler in T20 cricket, but taken for 50 in six overs. Without that bonus, Yorkshire's defeat would have been even heavier.
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No issues with new team-mates, says Jofra Archer as he tries not to focus on World Cup
Published in
Cricket
Saturday, 04 May 2019 10:34
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Jofra Archer described the atmosphere in the England dressing room as "very welcoming" after making his much-anticipated debut against Ireland in Dublin on Friday. Archer, who only became eligible for England last month, picked up 1 for 40 on his first outing but said he was trying "not to set his heart" on winning a World Cup spot over the next few weeks.
The possibility of Archer forcing his way into the World Cup squad had brought guarded responses from a few of his prospective team-mates, notably David Willey, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes. Archer said that he had since spoken to all three and was not worried about how the situation had been portrayed.
"It's been very welcoming," Archer said. "I knew most of the guys before coming here but it's nice to come into a new team with some people you know. Sometimes the media can get things wrong and misquote people. Since I've been here I didn't feel any malice at all. It's a really welcoming bunch of lads. I'm happy.
"It's game by game, I'm not thinking too far ahead. If I do well here it will probably put my case forward. But I'm not focusing on the World Cup spot."
Archer, 24, initially came to England in 2016 expecting to go through a seven-year process to qualify for England and admitted that he had not envisaged himself being in contention to play at the forthcoming World Cup.
"It's done now. I'm here," he said. "It happened a bit quicker than I expected - I had my eyes set on 2023 and to be given the opportunity so early is really exciting. I'm here with a great team at a great time."
Archer said he had not slept much the night before and conceded to a few nerves in his opening over. He took the new ball alongside Willey, delivering a respectable first spell, before returning later in the innings to crank up the pace and claim his maiden international wicket with a 90mph that knocked out Mark Adair's off stump.
"I generally don't sleep too early," he said. "I probably was thinking about today a bit, but not too much.
"I didn't really have a chance to think about [the wicket]. The guy was starting to up the ante a bit, so I was just focused on getting him out, [although] obviously I was a bit excited."
Although Archer was left out of England's preliminary World Cup 15 when it was announced last month, he now has a T20I against Pakistan on Sunday followed by a five-match ODI series with the same opponents to push himself into contention. The process is out of his hands but he said he would understand the disappointment if he were to take the place of one of the more-senior members of the squad.
"Anyone would think about it. But [all I can do is] just play well here and hope, I guess. I'll try not to set my heart on it. Obviously the guys have been together a long time and they probably do deserve it so I won't feel too bad if I'm left out."
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#Shalieve: Steelers LB dances with his new bride
Published in
Breaking News
Saturday, 04 May 2019 11:47
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At one point, there was a chance that Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier might never walk again.
On Friday, Shazier walked Michelle Rodriguez down the aisle as they got married in Pittsburgh. And if that wasn't accomplishment enough, he even danced with his new bride.
That's @RyanShazier DANCING at his wedding! ? (via @Love_Ola_9) pic.twitter.com/4brfxrMEjo
— ESPN (@espn) May 4, 2019
Shazier was rushed to a University of Cincinnati hospital on Dec. 4, 2017 after a tackling attempt against the Cincinnati Bengals left him struggling to move. The two-time Pro Bowler underwent spinal stabilization surgery a few days after, and he didn't regain movement in his legs until the following February.
In the days, weeks and months that have followed, Shazier has tackled milestone after milestone in his ultimate goal of returning to the NFL. Where paralysis once was a concern in the days after the injury, Shazier has retaught himself to walk, drive a car, jog and lift weights.
And you can add walking down the aisle and dancing with his bride to that list of accomplishments.
Shazier will not play in 2019, and his contract tolled at a minimum salary, giving him one more year toward NFL pension. The team has kept him on the roster with the physically unable to perform (PUP) designation simply because, as coach Mike Tomlin has said, "it's Ryan Shazier."
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler contributed to this report.
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Raptors say Siakam (calf) is doubtful for Game 4
Published in
Basketball
Saturday, 04 May 2019 11:13
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PHILADELPHIA -- Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam suffered a right calf contusion, and has been listed as doubtful for Game 4 of the Raptors' conference semifinals series against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Siakam said on Saturday he hurt the calf in the Raptors' 116-95 loss at Philadelphia in Game 3 on Thursday, but couldn't recall precisely when the injury occurred.
"I don't know exactly when it happened, but after the game I was just like really sore," Siakam said. "I think it calmed down a little bit, then I felt worse."
Siakam hasn't been able to put the leg through much physical activity since Thursday. The calf has been undergoing treatment, including ice as well as light movement therapy, he said.
A favorite to win the NBA's Most Improved Player award, Siakam has emerged as one of the Raptors' most consistent offensive producers behind Kawhi Leonard this postseason. In eight postseason games this spring, Siakam has averaged 22.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists, with an effective field goal percentage of 56.9. Siakam is also a versatile defender who has guarded all five positions for the Raptors at various junctures over the past two postseasons.
Siakam's absence would challenge the Raptors because the team is already without reserve forward OG Anunoby, who underwent an emergency appendectomy just prior to the start of the playoffs.
"With the OG out, it's not the ideal position for us," said Raptors coach Nick Nurse. "We're a little thin there."
Each scenario presents a different complication for Toronto. Nurse suggested Raptors backup guard Fred VanVleet as one option, noting the team had enjoyed success with pace and ball movement when VanVleet has played as part of a three-guard lineup. In 56 minutes on the floor with the starting backcourt and Leonard, lineups featuring VanVleet averaged 116.7 points per 100 possessions, with a net rating of plus-46.8.
Yet replacing Siakam with a perimeter player would put the Raptors at a greater size disadvantage against a Philadelphia team that features exceptional length and has hurt Toronto on the offensive glass.
"Size has been a problem," Nurse said. "We knew coming into the series that they would have size at a lot of positions."
The Raptors could also opt to start backup big man Serge Ibaka, who has struggled in the series. Nurse also suggested as another possibility 6-foot-7 swingman Patrick McCaw, who has seen limited time on the floor since returning from a right thumb injury. Introducing McCaw into the starting lineup would enable the Raptors to preserve their current rotation, Nurse said.
With the Raptors trailing 2-1 in the series and now potentially without their second-most prolific scorer, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said that it was imperative for the rest of the team to compensate in an effort to help leading scorer Kawhi Leonard.
"Kawhi has been unbelievable in the playoffs, Pascal's been unbelievable in the playoffs," Lowry said on Saturday. "As other players around those guys we need to step up in general, make some shots, be more aggressive, draw some more fouls, try to do some more things to help relieve the little bit of the scoring burden off of them."
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St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Luke Gregerson is rejoining the major league roster as he looks to pitch for the first time since July after being diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement.
The Cardinals activated Gregerson off the 10-day injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs.
Gregerson was placed on the injured list three times in 2018, with the shoulder injury in July ending his season. He also missed two months earlier in 2018 with the same injury.
He has pitched just 12 2/3 innings since signing a two-year contract with the Cardinals in the 2018 offseason. The 34-year-old has a career ERA of 3.10 while playing for the San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros and Cardinals.
In a corresponding move, outfielder Tyler O'Neill was optioned to Triple-A Memphis. O'Neill was hitting .263 with one home run and 4 RBIs in 21 games this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Yankees starter James Paxton was placed on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation, the team announced Saturday.
The southpaw left Friday night's game against the Twins after three innings.
"It's just something that's nagging at me enough that I couldn't execute pitches," Paxton said after the game. "I'm not real worried it's going to be something long term. I'm hoping it's something that's just a quick fix."
It's the eighth time he's been placed on the DL in his seven-year career.
Paxton is the 14th Yankee currently on the IL.
The 30-year-old is 3-2 this season with a 3.11 ERA, 52 strikeouts and 13 walks.
New York called up right-hander Jake Barrett from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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ANDERSON, Ind. – Even before he laid a tire onto the race track for Friday’s Must See Racing Sprint Car Series practice night at Anderson Speedway, Tyler Roahrig was already all smiles.
It had been three years since he had strapped into a winged asphalt sprint car to go racing, but the feel came back right away for the 28-year-old from Mishawaka, Ind.
The joy didn’t go away, either, even if Roahrig was admittedly “still in non-winged mode” during his first run of hot laps at the quarter-mile, high-banked paved oval.
“Man, I forgot how much fun to drive these things are,” Roahrig said after climbing from the Wayne Stickney-owned No. 99. “It’s been three years, and this practice has already reminded me how much I missed these winged cars are, especially at this place. I’m already having a blast with these guys.”
Roahrig noted that there was a certain aggression factor in driving the winged car versus the non-winged car that he had to readjust to between the first and second sessions on Friday.
“I’ve been so used to running without the wing here the last few years that I forgot how hard you could really run these things with the wing on top,” Roahrig noted. “The first session, I was still a little bit out to lunch, I guess you’d say, but the second session we picked up three or four tenths … and that was pretty much all me as the driver running it harder.
“But I really did forget how much enjoyment there is in running these things,” he continued. “It’s been since 2016 that I’ve run a winged car in the (United) States, and I’m really enjoying being back.”
Roahrig noted that his partnership with the Stickney Racing Team came in large part due to a race in his home state that never ended up happening because of a washout last fall.
“Wayne got ahold of me last year and wanted me to run a race in Fort Wayne at Baer Field (Motorsports Park), because I was going to be there anyways with my late model,” Roahrig recalled. “That race rained out, unfortunately, but we kept in touch over the winter and decided to come here for our first race of the season.
“I think we fit well together as a team, because these guys are serious racers, just like I am. They want to win, they work hard on their car and I know it’s a good piece,” he added. “A lot of good racers have not only driven this car, but won in it, and I hope I can be the next one to add my name to that list.”
Though he likely won’t contest the full Must See Racing Sprint Car Series schedule and contend for rookie-of-the-year honors due to a handful of late model conflicts, Roahrig does expect to race a good number of series events this season with Stickney’s team, including at least the first two events.
Roahrig also hopes to head east for the doubleheader weekend at Hillside Buffalo Speedway in Holland, N.Y., in late July, as well as hit the Border Wars doubleheader at Michigan’s Owosso Speedway and Ohio’s Sandusky Speedway in late August.
“I think we’ll definitely do a few more,” he noted. “It’ll kind of be on a week-to-week basis, but I’m really excited to race with these guys. Basically, I’m going to run the (No.) 99 car whenever I can. Whenever my schedule allows and their schedule allows is when you’ll see us.
“We could do anywhere around 10 races, I can’t really say for sure. We’ll see what happens.”
One thing was clear on Friday, though. Roahrig’s love for being back in a sprint car was virtually unmatched by any other force in the Anderson pit area, and he was quick to explain why, as well.
“Sprint cars are just a raw form of motorsports, in my opinion,” Roahrig noted. “They’re pretty simple and it’s just about whatever it takes to be fast, is how a sprint car is built … compared to a late model, anyways. My family actually started out in open-wheel cars, running in supermodifieds and sprints, so I’ve always been drawn to them. It has just taken me a while to be able to do it regularly.
“I love sprint car racing, though, and I have ever since I was a little kid. It’s good to be back.”
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Pettersen to join Morning Drive to talk motherhood, future playing schedule
Published in
Golf
Saturday, 04 May 2019 03:00
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An LPGA mystery is about to be solved.
Suzann Pettersen has confirmed she will be checking in on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive on Wednesday to talk about her return to the LPGA as a working mom. She’s scheduled to call in to the show as part of a segment focused on the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. She’s playing the new team event in Midland, Mich., July 17-20 with European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew as her playing partner.
In a tweet Saturday, Pettersen confirmed she will share what her life has been like as a mom and what her playing schedule will be for the remainder of 2019. LPGA commissioner Mike Whan is also scheduled to join Morning Drive to talk about the event.
While Pettersen has checked in with followers on social media with periodic updates on her life, she has virtually disappeared from tour life for a year and a half, last teeing it up at the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in November of 2017. She left on maternity leave to prepare for the birth of her first child, a son, Herman Alexander, who entered the world in August of last year. Fellow tour pros have been uncertain about whether she was planning a comeback or whether she might retire to focus more fully on family life.
Pettersen, a 15-time LPGA winner with two major championship titles, is a Solheim Cup assistant captain. It has also been uncertain whether she was interested in mounting a summer run to make the European team that will meet the Americans in Scotland in September, possibly as a captain’s pick. That’s also likely to come up in her Morning Drive appearance.
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Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake scored a stoppage time winner to break nine-man Tottenham's resistance and earn a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
Tottenham saw Son Heung-Min and Juan Foyth shown red cards either side of half-time, but held out until stoppage time before conceding the game's only goal.
Mauricio Pochettino's men came into the match knowing three points would confirm their place in next season's Champions League -- and Lucas Moura came close to opening the scoring early on when his long-range effort almost caught rookie goalkeeper Mark Travers out of position, only to drift narrowly wide.
However, Travers then produced a succession of impressive saves to keep the visitors at bay before Spurs' game plan began to unravel.
Eric Dier was lucky not to pick up a second yellow card when he stopped a Bournemouth breakaway on 34 minutes only to see referee Craig Pawson wave play on.
And minutes later he almost gave away a penalty when he kicked Callum Wilson in the back of the leg but again Pawson said no.
Yet there was no escape for Son on 43 minutes when he was sent off for striking Jefferson Lerma in the face following a tussle with the Colombia international.
Pochettino wrung the changes at half-time as he withdrew Dier and Toby Alderweireld for Victor Wanyama and Foyth -- only to see the Argentina international dismissed two minutes and 13 seconds into the second half for a reckless tackle.
Bournemouth failed to create an openings for the majority of the game, before Ake scored a free header from a corner in stoppage time to secure all three points.
Tottenham will still be guaranteed a top four finish if Arsenal fail to beat Brighton at the Emirates on Sunday but a win for Chelsea against Watford would see them drop to fourth. Bournemouth move up to 12th.
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