Ben Doak has come in for widespread praise following his performance for Scotland against Croatia. 

The Tartan Army fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat in Zagreb, despite taking a 33rd-minute lead through Ryan Christie. Croatia hit back just two minutes later via Eintracht Frankfurt striker Igor Matanovic, while Andrej Kramaric finished the job in the second half.

But amid a gloomy performance, Liverpool youngster Doak — currently on loan in the Championship with Middlesbrough — put in a very promising showing.

The 18-year-old was often forced to feed on scraps, but was still able to complete two of three attempted dribbles, while he was only dispossessed once in his 77 minutes on the field — despite coming up against Man City defender Josko Gvardiol.

Doak also had four touches in the opposition box, played three passes into the final third and chipped in defensively with four recoveries, one tackle and one clearance.

Liverpool star Ben Doak praised in first international start

Doak’s performance in just his third senior cap and first start has caught the eye of one former Scotland international, as well as manager Steve Clarke.

“It’s the willingness to take players on, take pressure off your team, and drag your side up the pitch,” ex-Everton forward James McFadden said on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.

“When he gets into the final third, he can’t get it right every time, but he is a threat.

“We mentioned his age and bringing that freshness, you think it’s going to be raw because we’ve not seen a lot of him.

“But he’s making good decisions to hold his position and run in behind and not getting too excited and rushing things.”

Clarke added: “That’s his first start, I’m sure it won’t be his last.”

McFadden concluded: “We all know he’s rapid and often you get players who are really quick but don’t have technical ability.

“But you can see he has got that. His first touch is good, it takes him where he wants to go.

“His final ball, he’s 18 it will come, but he gets himself in really good positions to cause problems.

“There’s development in him but you can see he’s got that quality and awareness as well.”

Top photo by George Wood/Getty Images

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Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with a move for Middlesbrough’s promising midfielder Hayden Hackney.

Spurs were first reported to be interested in the 22-year-old a few months ago, with speculation about a potential January move that ultimately did not come to fruition. However, their interest in the talented midfielder remains strong.

According to the latest report from TBR, Tottenham had scouts in attendance to watch Hackney in action during Middlesbrough’s first two Championship games this season.

Tottenham attracted by Hayden Hackney’s versatility

He has already established himself as one of Middlesbrough’s key players, having made 71 appearances for the club, scoring five goals and providing six assists.

Hackney is primarily a defensive midfielder but has demonstrated the versatility to play in various midfield roles, including central and attacking midfield.

This adaptability is said to be a key reason behind Tottenham’s ongoing interest, as manager Ange Postecoglou values multi-functional players who can operate in different positions.

While Tottenham remain keen on the young midfielder, Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick is reportedly reluctant to part ways with one of his most promising talents.

Hackney is seen as a crucial player for the Championship side, and Middlesbrough will likely resist any attempts to lure him away.

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Tottenham’s recent transfer strategy

Tottenham’s pursuit of Hackney aligns with their broader transfer strategy under Postecoglou, which involves targeting young, versatile players who can adapt to different roles within the squad.

As Spurs look to strengthen their team ahead of the new season, Hackney’s ability to perform in multiple midfield positions makes him an attractive option for the North London club.

The post Tottenham send scouts to watch highly-rated Championship midfielder twice as they step up their pursuit – report appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made, with the likes of Newcastle United, West Ham United and Everton learning their fate.

After round one saw Championship, League One and League Two sides kick things off, we’ve reached the stage where the Premier League clubs not competing in European competition enter the tournament.

All-Premier League ties of Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle and West Ham vs Bournemouth are among the most eye-catching, while there are also some local derbies like Millwall vs Leyton Orient, Barnsley vs Sheffield United and Blackburn vs Blackpool.

Read on for the full Carabao Cup round two draw, with all ties to be played the week commencing August 26.

Carabao Cup draw

Northern section

Grimsby vs Sheffield Wednesday

Everton vs Doncaster

Blackburn vs Blackpool

Fleetwood vs Rotherham

Shrewsbury vs Bolton

Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle

Barrow vs Derby

Leicester vs Tranmere

Middlesbrough vs Stoke

Barnsley vs Sheffield United

Harrogate vs Preston

Walsall vs Huddersfield

Wolves vs Burnley

Southern section

Coventry vs Oxford United

Swansea vs Wycombe

AFC Wimbledon vs Ipswich

Birmingham vs Fulham

Watford vs Plymouth

West Ham vs Bournemouth

QPR vs Luton

Brighton vs Crawley

Crystal Palace vs Norwich

Cardiff vs Southampton

Millwall vs Leyton Orient

Colchester vs Brentford

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Leeds United hero Luke Ayling has admitted that it was an “easy decision” for him to leave Elland Road this summer to join Middlesbrough on a permanent deal. 

The defender spent eight years at Leeds and was one of the main stars that helped them gain promotion back to the Premier League in 2020.

However, the veteran star fell out of favour with Daniel Farke this season and departed the Yorkshire club to join Middlesbrough on loan. Ayling has now completed a permanent move to the Championship team and has stated that it was an easy decision for him given his position at Leeds and the experience he had with Boro this season.

Ayling told Middlesbrough’s website: “I had a great four months so re-signing was a pretty straightforward decision. It’s been done for a while so I’m happy we can finally announce it. An easy decision to make.

“I’m sure there will have been other teams interested, but, with how the team was playing and what I feel we can do next year, that’s why I’ve signed on. I’m really excited about what we can achieve next year.”

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Luke Ayling will not be the only player leaving Leeds United this summer

Losing Sunday’s Championship play-off final was a huge blow to Leeds as it will mean that the Yorkshire club will need to sell several stars this summer. The Whites are believed to owe £190m in player transfers to other clubs, after splashing cash on a number of new stars in the summer of 2022.

Ayling was one of the easier names to sell, but fans of the club will not want to see them part ways with the likes of Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville. That is now the Whites’ reality as many clubs will have their eye on Elland Road to try and take some of their key men.

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According to The Telegraph, Luke Ayling will leave Leeds United at the end of this season and join Middlesbrough on a permanent deal.

Ayling spent the last season on loan in the Championship with Michael Carrick’s side, where he impressed by scoring one goal and providing nine assists.

With his contract at Elland Road set to expire this summer, Ayling has decided not to renew, making a return to the Riverside Stadium increasingly likely.

The defender had attracted interest from newly relegated Sheffield United but chose to agree to a permanent deal with Middlesbrough instead.

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Luke Ayling leaves Leeds United as a club legend

Ayling joined Leeds United in 2016 from Bristol City and quickly established himself as a key player.

Known for his versatility and consistency, Ayling primarily operates as a right-back but has also been deployed in central defence and midfield.

He played a crucial role in Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League during the 2019-2020 season under Marcelo Bielsa.

After eight years at the club, Ayling spent the last season on loan following Leeds’ relegation.

His performances for Middlesbrough have earned him a permanent move, allowing him to continue his career in the Championship.

Ayling’s departure marks the end of an era for Leeds United, where he leaves as a fan favourite and a club legend.

His contributions to the team, both on and off the field, will be remembered fondly by the Leeds faithful as he embarks on a new chapter with Middlesbrough.

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Leeds United star Luke Ayling will leave Elland Road this summer but the defender will not be making a move to Sheffield United amid interest from the Premier League club. 

The 32-year-old is set to put an end to his time at the Yorkshire club as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season. The defender leaves having played 268 games for the Whites across an eight-year stint and was a big part of their return to the Premier League in 2020.

Daniel Farke’s side are close to returning to England’s top flight having reached the Championship play-off final but Ayling will not be with them this time around.

The right-back spent this season on loan with Middlesbrough and it is believed that he will remain with the Championship club for the 2024/25 campaign as they will move to sign him permanently. Michael Carrick’s team will likely be promotion contenders next season and the Boro coach believes the Leeds man can aid their push.

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Luke Ayling rejects Premier League club for Middlesbrough move

According to The Telegraph, Sheffield United showed interest in Ayling ahead of the summer transfer window as Chris Wilder was keen on signing the defender. However, the 32-year-old has opted to stay on at Middlesbrough.

Had the Premier League side remained in the division they would have had a better chance of luring the Leeds man away from the Riverside but instead the two teams will compete in the Championship during the 2024/25 campaign.

Many Leeds fans will be sad to see Ayling leave the club but they will also be aware that it is for the best.

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Leeds United travel to the Riverside Stadium to face Middlesbrough on Monday and Patrick Bamford is expected to start up top for Daniel Farke’s side. 

The Yorkshire club go into the game having had a nice nine-day break since the disappointment of losing their unbeaten home record to Blackburn Rovers. Promotion rivals Leicester and Southampton will have played before the Whites kick-off but they know that they have to win their remaining fixtures to return to the Premier League.

For the Blackburn match, Joel Piroe was one of the three changes Farke made as he came in to start up front in place of Patrick Bamford, who has seen his form dip recently.

The striker role has been an area of debate this season at Leeds, with calls growing for Mateo Joseph to be handed his first league start for the Championship side but Farke has continued to resist the temptation to do so.

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Speaking on the Square Ball Podcast, The Athletic journalist Phil Hay believes that 30-year-old Bamford will get the nod on Monday to face his former side Middlesbrough.

“It is sometimes the sort of environment he really likes. I cannot see Farke going with the system he did against Blackburn with Piroe up front, it just didn’t really work and it didn’t bring much out of Piroe,” Hay said.

“On the basis of what we’ve seen from Farke you would assume Bamford comes in and plays that role. I would be tempted to try Joseph but I do get it is a gamble and it is very easy to make suggestions of changes which then don’t get tested.

“For as long as Joseph isn’t starting, it’s easy to say to play him and he will score goals. If you play him and he doesn’t score goals, there are consequences of that. You have to get that decision right.”

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Karamoko Dembele has impressed many with his performances at Blackpool this season and the 21-year-old could be on the move this summer. 

The midfielder is on loan with the English club from Stade Brestois as he moved to League One in search of more minutes.

Dembele has starred in an attacking midfield role at Bloomfield Road, managing seven goals and 12 assists in 40 games; with HITC now reporting that his displays have drawn widescale interest ahead of the summer with Championship clubs Leeds United, Leicester City, Middlesbrough and Southampton eyeing a move.

The problem for them is that Premier League teams have also taken note of what the 21-year-old is doing; with Everton, West Ham, Fulham, Brentford, Wolves and Nottingham Forest all said to be keeping tabs on Dembele as well.

The midfielder has a contract with Stade Brest until 2026 so the youngster’s future is in the French club’s hands.

The Ligue 1 outfit may want to keep the player following his current loan spell but the good news for Dembele is that he will not be short of options ahead of the new season.

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The post Leeds make move to sign devastating striker ahead of Premier League clubs appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The 2023/24 Championship season is shaping up nicely for Leeds United, with Daniel Farke’s side seemingly timing their run to the top of the table just right.

Currently in second place, the all whites are now only three points behind Leicester City, who at one stage of the campaign were a gargantuan 11 points ahead of them.

Whether the German will manage to get his side promoted automatically or through the Play-Offs will only be seen later in the campaign, and a promotion will largely dictate the club’s transfer policy.

Middlesbrough could sign Luke Ayling permanently

One player that could conceivably be considered an Elland Road legend is Luke Ayling, who signed for Championship rivals Middlesbrough on loan earlier in the season.

He’d surely be desperate to pit his wits against the Premier League’s best, but it seems that a more permanent stay on Teeside could be on the cards.

“You’re always playing for something and as it stands at the moment that’s obviously what’s next,” Boro manager, Michael Carrick, was quoted as saying by Teeside Live.

“Looking at him, that’s not at the forefront of his mind at all. He’s all in, he’s desperate to do well and win games for us. We’ll see. That will play out how it’s going to play out over the next few months.”

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At 32 years of age, Ayling is getting no younger, and there’s no room for passengers nowadays in the English top-flight, as the likes of last season’s promoted clubs – Luton Town, Sheffield United and Burnley – are all finding out this year.

The post Manager confirms he might sign Leeds United hero in summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The winners of the Championship Play-Off final, dubbed ‘the world’s richest game,’ are often sent tumbling straight back to the English second-tier after a season in the Premier League.

Even the two teams that go up automatically are beginning to religiously suffer the same fate.

No need to change Premier League status quo says former agent

Take this season’s Premier League bottom three; Luton, who were promoted via the Play-Off final, are third from bottom, and Burnley, who romped the Championship by 10 points from Sheffield United, find themselves second bottom just above the Blades.

Such a scenario is becoming more and more common, but Premier League co-creator, Jon Smith, doesn’t believe there’s any reason to change the status quo to address the imbalance.

“I hate gerrymandering stuff that is not real and the supporters wouldn’t like it either,” he said in his exclusive column for CaughtOffside.

“Clubs need to work more diligently once they’ve been promoted from the Championship into the Premier League.

“Brighton have had a good level of management all the way through their time in the top-flight, and Forest and Wolves have also done well during their time in the top division.

“There is a mindset that says let’s bank the £120m check, let’s spend £60m and if we go down we go down £60m richer than we were and we’ve got the use of parachute payments.

“I think that the parachute payment needs to be looked at, but the Premier League is the most successful sporting league in the world so why change it?”

It does seem that far too many clubs coming up are focused on the uplift in finances and subsequent parachute payments, rather than being more diligent with regards to their business practices.

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“There’s enough money if you’re clever enough and in a changing footballing market where you don’t have to spend a fortune,” Smith continued.

“So just maybe being cleverer is much more important than fixing something which is not broken.”

Though most of the big European football clubs now appear to be against a Super League, it might have made sense from the point of view of taking those handful of teams that always seem to win their respective leagues away, and giving others – including promoted teams – something to genuinely aim at.

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