Sports
England all-rounder Ben Stokes added to Ashes Squad after declaring himself “ready for Australia”

England all-rounder Ben Stokes added to Ashes Squad after declaring himself “ready for Australia”
England’s chances of winning the Ashes down under this winter have increased dramatically after the addition of superstar all-rounder Ben Stokes to the touring party.
Stokes was originally set to miss out after making himself unavailable for selection by taking a break from cricket to focus on his mental health. His time away also allowed him to recover from a reassuring finger injury that had been causing him severe discomfort for months.
He initially suffered a broken finger back in April playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Then after undergoing a “successful” operation Stokes featured for Durham on a number of occasions before captaining a weakened England side against Pakistan after a COVID outbreak hit the squad.
In July he announced his indefinite break from the game due to discomfort and worries about his mental wellbeing – the added pressure of bubble life also played a part in the decision to take a break.
The decision came as a surprise to many and outlines the need to look after personal wellbeing no matter how high-profile the individual may be.
Earlier this month Stokes underwent surgery for a second time and after fears of delayed intervention his rehabilitation went as expected. His addition to the squad is welcome news to everyone involved in England Cricket and the 30-year-old is excited to be back in action:
“I had a break to priorities my mental wellbeing and I got my finger sorted. I am looking forward to seeing my mates and being on the field with them. I’m ready for Australia.”
England Captain Joe Root responded to the news by tweeting:

Credit: Joe Root Twitter
The inclusion of Stokes provides more balance to both England’s batting line-up and bowling attack. It also gives the Australian team more to think about, making England a much more troubling proposition.
The talismanic all-rounder often leaves his best for the Australians, who know all too well about the threat he possess after his unbeaten 135 at Headingley in 2019 gave England an unlikely win after facing down the barrel of a certain defeat. A memorable innings to say the least.
Stokes missed the last Ashes series in Australia following his suspension from international cricket after his involvement in a fight outside a nightclub in Bristol; he was found not guilty of affray in August 2018.
Unfortunately Stokes’ return didn’t come in time for the T20 World Cup in the UAE, at which England smashed defending champions West Indies by six wickets after bowling out their opponents for just 55 in Dubai on Saturday.
England’s next game is against Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Root and the rest of the test-match squad leave for Australia on 4th November and will be joined by members of the t20 World Cup squad following the conclusion of the tournament.
The long awaited Ashes Series down under starts on December 8th in Brisbane.
Following the addition of Stokes England may change their bowling tactics from all-seam attack – he gives the touring side an added dimension.
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Featured
Newcastle United Fans Attacked in Paris by PSG fans – Trapped in pub!

Footage tonight has emerged of PSG fans corning Newcastle United fans in a pub and attacking them in a scary video. This follows news that police had informed Newcastle fans that attacks were possible which lead to at least one pub having to close at 10pm due to this.
We don’t have any details on what happened after the video and this is a breaking news story, follow us on social media to stay fully up to date.
You can see the video here:
YouTube – North East Updates (follow channel for more – won’t open video unless you have an account and over 18) – https://youtube.com/shorts/Uo_2G1WEuWg
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There will be videos added tomorrow both before and after the PGS game on the North East Updates Youtube channel – follow the channel to stay fully up to date and see below for previous NUFC vs PSG videos…
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PSG Fans arrive at Newcastle Upon Tyne and are met by Newcastle United fans ahead of their Champions League tie (which ended in a 4-1 Newcastle United win). Newcastle Centre was on shut down with streets closed and everyone watching.
The footage is not live and IN FULL on our Youtube Channel you can see the footage below – let us know on the comments on the video what your thoughts are on it….
We rather foolishly spoke to both NUFC and PSG fans after the game – we had to stop filming the interviewing of the PSG fans due to safety concerns see both videos below…
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We are supporting the Warm Christmas meal appeal – you can donate a warm Christmas meal to someone in need in Newcastle and the North East below..
Warm Christmas Meal Appeal North East – Help a Local Person in Need – NEoffers.co.uk
News
The Players Newcastle United could/should sign from Saudi

Newcastle United has received a green light to pursue players from the Saudi Pro League after a proposed Premier League vote to restrict loan moves between clubs with shared owners fell short of the required support. This decision opens up possibilities for Newcastle to strengthen their squad in January, targeting talents from clubs linked with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Despite initial discussions to potentially bar such transfers, the recent vote outcome has cleared the way for Newcastle to explore signings.
See our video and reaction below and follow our YouTube for more local videos..
A recent meeting among the Premier League’s 20 clubs concluded without the necessary majority support to impose a ban on loan transfers between co-owned clubs. While 13 teams voted in favor of the prohibition, the requirement of 14 votes for approval was not met, granting Newcastle the liberty to pursue players from the Saudi Pro League.
This development particularly benefits Newcastle’s pursuit of Al Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves, whom they’ve eyed as a potential replacement for Sandro Tonali. Neves, despite significant interest from the Premier League, is expected to remain with Al Hilal during the upcoming January transfer window. The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that despite ongoing speculation, Neves is content and settled at Al Hilal, playing a pivotal role within the team. His projected stay until the season’s end indicates his commitment to Al Hilal’s cause, especially crucial following Neymar’s injury.
Although ties between Newcastle and Al Hilal, sharing the same majority shareholder in Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), sparked concerns about potential rule changes, as of now, no alterations have been enforced. Speculation regarding a Premier League vote to block such moves in the winter market hasn’t materialized into action. Consequently, Neves looks set to continue his journey with Al Hilal, with no reported negotiations or approaches from interested parties.
Al Hilal’s impressive position atop the Saudi Pro League standings, coupled with their progress in tournaments like the AFC Champions League and the King’s Cup, further solidifies Neves’ integral role within the team. Their dominance, evident in their substantial lead over second-place Al Nassr, underscores their strength even with the latter boasting talents like Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ultimately, Newcastle’s access to the Saudi Pro League remains unimpeded, potentially paving the way for significant acquisitions in the upcoming transfer window.
Al-Hilal
- Ruben Neves
- Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
- Aleksandr Mitrovic
Al-Nassr
- Seko Fofana
- Marcelo Brozovic
- Aymeric Laporte
Al-Ittihad
- N’Golo Kante
- Fabinho
- Jota
Al-Ahly
- Franck Kessie
- Gabri Veiga
- Riyad Mahrez
Newcastle fans who would you like to see be brought in or who is most realistic – follow for all Newcastle United news – Newcastle Supporters Worldwide
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News
Everton Get Record 10 Point Deduction!

Everton faced a significant setback as they incurred a 10-point deduction due to a breach of profit and sustainability regulations, marking the most substantial penalty in Premier League history. This plunge pushed Sean Dyche’s squad into the relegation zone, casting a shadow over their prior 14th position in the league, where they were holding an eight-point buffer from the bottom three.
This unprecedented deduction echoes only two prior instances in Premier League history. Middlesbrough faced a three-point penalty for failing to fulfill a fixture against Blackburn in 1996/97, while Portsmouth was stripped of nine points after entering administration in March 2010. Everton’s situation was referred to an Independent Commission by the Premier League in March over potential violations of profit and sustainability rules.
Amidst this, Everton voiced their intention to vigorously defend and strongly contest the charges before a hearing held last month. The specifics of the alleged breach have not been officially disclosed. However, insights from Sky Sports News suggest that the charges are linked to interest payments concerning the construction expenses for the club’s new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock.
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