Category: 6. Sports

United’s second-string host their Saints counterparts at Whitley Park and will be aiming to build on Wednesday’s impressive National League Cup win against Gateshead, coming from 3-1 down to salvage a late 4-3 victory at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Heffernan, who scored the winning goal against the Heed, is determined for the group to build on a strong 2024/25 campaign after finishing in ninth place of the 26-team division last term, winning ten of their 20 league matches.

The Cork-born defender, who has represented Republic of Ireland at under-19 level, told newcastleunited.com: “It’s been a long pre-season and everyone is looking forward to the first league game to start. It was great to beat Gateshead on Wednesday and it has set us up well but it’s time for the league on Sunday. We’re all buzzing and excited for the test ahead.

“Everyone wants to improve every year so we want to finish higher than we did last season and aim for the play-offs, seeing if we can get further. I think everyone will want to do the same and, individually, we will all have our own goals for the season.

“You like training but there’s nothing like a game and when you’re playing every three days, you love it. I enjoy it and that’s, ultimately, how you get better and learning the most by playing lots of football matches.”

Heffernan, who made his senior debut at the age of 16 for Cork City, played a key role in the young Magpies’ National League Cup triumph over Gateshead, producing a goal and assist in the comeback victory.

The 20-year-old centre-back was pleased with the team’s resilience to overturn a two-goal deficit, scoring three times in the final 20 minutes, and believes the positive result will benefit the squad moving forward.

“It was brilliant to get on the scoresheet,” he added. “I don’t often score so any chance to do so is great. My main job is to keep the ball out of the net which I couldn’t do on Wednesday, unfortunately, but scoring to help the team is good for my own confidence and, hopefully, there’s more to come this season.

“We had to dig deep but that was our first proper test of the season. We had a couple of pre-season games but if you look at our first-half performance and up until 60 minutes, our final half-hour was our best.

“It took us a while to get into the game but I think when we showed our qualities, it showed we are a really good team. That game will stand us in stead going into the weekend and give us a lot of confidence before Sunday’s game.

“It will give us a big boost, playing against a good National League side and people can kick on from that game.”

Admission for Newcastle United Under-21s’ Premier League 2 visit of Southampton is free for season ticket holders, otherwise it’s £3 for adults and £1 concessions.

By Ryder Cup Digital On August 15, 2025 14:00 UTC

Chad Campbell doesn’t hold back when asked about the pressure of playing in the Ryder Cup. In this behind-the-scenes look Campbell’s Ryder Cup career, including the 2008 victory at Valhalla, he recalls being more nervous than he’d ever been in his life. But through those nerves came an unforgettable experience: the energy of the crowd, the weight of representing his country, and the bond forged with teammates in one of the most memorable U.S. victories in Ryder Cup history.

From clutching out a comeback win in his opening match with Stewart Cink to going toe-to-toe with Padraig Harrington in singles, Campbell shares what it felt like to have the hopes of the team — and a country — resting on his shoulders. He reflects on Captain Paul Azinger’s leadership, the “pod system” that fueled camaraderie, and the surreal moment when Boo Weekley galloped off the tee, becoming a fan-favorite icon. It’s a heartfelt look into what makes the Ryder Cup so unique — and why that week in 2008 still stands as the pinnacle of Campbell’s career.

The Pressure of Playing for Your Country
“I think it’s just playing for your country is awesome. You’re playing for more than yourself. When you got the whole country and your teammates kind of depending on you, it makes a little more pressure.”

Nerves on the First Tee of his Ryder Cup Debut with Davis Love
“I get probably sent in on the first day on Friday, when I was more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life, to be honest. I was playing with Davis Love in the morning matches. That was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life.”

When the Stage Sets In
“It was cool. Played all right and got through the first couple holes. And that was kind of the moment that it set in—how big the stage is there for Ryder Cup.”

Feeling the Weight
“It just feels like so much more pressure. I mean, the feeling that if I don’t get it done, I’m gonna let a lot of people down—which is not really the case. But that’s the way I looked at it. I’m like, man, I gotta play good. So just put a lot of pressure on myself to play well.”

Representing the USA
“Playing for your country—it’s an awesome feeling. To have all those fans out there rooting for you, cheering ‘USA!’ It’s a feeling in golf that you don’t get anywhere else. You’re playing for more than yourself, for a whole country and your teammates. That’s where the pressure comes from. Even though you have a teammate, you’ve got to take care of your part.”

A Special Week Early in His Career
“I’d only been on tour for two years. That was a very special week for me. The whole thing is sort of a blur when you look back at it. I wish I could just slow it down a little and take it all in—because the Ryder Cup is awesome.

Remembering a Big Drive
“That was a pretty good feeling right there. That’s the first time I’ve actually seen that. We were one up on that hole. Then Stewart hit that drive—I’ve never seen him hit one that far before. It was awesome. He was pretty jacked up.”

2008 at Valhalla: Career Highlight
“It’s definitely the top of my career. The year in ’08 when we were able to win—that was just awesome. Everything just fell together. The bond between the teammates—that’s something that’s always going to be a part of it.”

Paul Azinger’s Pod System
“I ran into Azinger last week and we talked about it a little bit. He was just great. He was kind of like one of us. He had a great plan with his pod system—matching people with like personalities. It was a great way to do it and obviously very successful.”

Comeback Win with Stewart Cink
“The first part of the week was a blur. But I remember the first match with Stewart against Poulter and Rose—we were getting beat pretty bad early. I think we were three down through seven. We came back to win that, which was awesome. That’s something Stewart and I still talk about now and again.”

Trusted by the Team
“It means a lot. Not only Paul, but a lot of players were involved—voicing who they wanted on the team that year. Just to be wanted, to know everybody’s got your back—it’s a great feeling. To be the last person knowing it could come down to you, it’s an honor.”

Defeating Padraig Harrington
“Having to play a guy like Padraig—it’s definitely a great win, something I feel really good about. I remember being on 4 or 5, looking up at the board and nobody was done yet. I looked at my caddie and said, ‘This might come down to us.’ Luckily everyone else played well—and I handled my part too. I think we’d already clinched before we teed off 15, but I’m not sure.”

Honor Confusion on the Tee
“I accidentally teed off in front of Padraig Harrington. He had the honor—I didn’t even know what I was doing. I was just so excited. He reminded me, but he didn’t make me replay the shot. I guess I just got caught up in the moment.”

Boo Weekley’s Ride & Team Vibe
“Oh, it was a great team. And Boo riding the horse off the tee—that kind of sums it up. Got the crowd into it. Who else but Boo? That was perfect. It captured the attitude. We were pretty relaxed all week.”

Bonding Beyond the Course
“Our play reflected that relaxed feeling. In the team room, hanging out off the course—you don’t always get that. On Tour, you have your group. But at the Ryder Cup, everybody eats together, every meal. It’s a team of fellow Americans going against Europe. All that pressure from your country—it’s just a really cool feeling to be part of the team.”

Leeds United have signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a three-year contract.

Calvert-Lewin, 28, joins Leeds as a free agent having left Everton at the end of his contract this summer.

The England international managed just three goals in 26 appearances for Everton last season, having missed three months from the end of January due to injury.

Injuries blighted his final few years at Everton, missing 529 days with a variety of problems since the start of the 2021-22 campaign.

Calvert-Lewin was offered a new contract on reduced terms by the Merseyside club, for whom he scored 71 times in 274 games, at the end of last season, but turned it down for a new challenge.

Leeds host Calvert-Lewin’s former club in their opening game on Monday night.

“I am really excited,” told Leeds’ club website. “It is like walking in today like a first day at school.

“I feel like a kid again that is just starting somewhere new and just can’t wait to play and represent the football club.

“For me, it is a massive football club with a massive fan base. I have played at Elland Road before and I just remember thinking how loud the fans were and how good the fans were.

“It is something that I really, really wanted to be a part of. I also spoke with the manager prior to this and we had a really good conversation and he was a centre-forward himself.

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“So, he was just explaining how the life of a centre-forward is and he gave me a feeling of a lot of understanding and it made me really excited to work with him as well. And just the way that the team set up and the way that we set up last season was really attractive for me.

“I have been in the Premier League a while now so I think people are pretty familiar with my game but I also think there are other aspects to my game that I can bring that I maybe haven’t brought enough of.

“I am looking forward to unlocking that and continuing the things that I am good at but also bringing new aspects and new facets to my game. So I’m looking forward to just seeing Elland Road in full force through a different lens, you know, as a Leeds player.”

Bournemouth have opened talks to sign Scotland winger Ben Doak from Liverpool.

The Reds want £25m for the 19-year-old, who is expected to be left out of their squad for Friday’s Premier League season opener against Bournemouth.

Doak has been a target for other Premier League clubs and Portuguese side Porto, but the Cherries are considered the frontrunners to sign him, according to multiple sources involved in the deal.

The forward, who has six caps for Scotland, spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough, scoring three times and recording seven assists in 24 matches.

He has played just 10 times for Liverpool since joining from Celtic in 2022.

Bournemouth, who have agreed to sell Dango Ouattara to Brentford for £42.5m, are keen to reduce the price for Doak in negotiations.

It has been a busy summer for the Cherries after losing defenders Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez for a total of about £150m.

Manager Andoni Iraola admitted his side are “not where they want to be” before the trip to Anfield but added “important movements” will be made before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, left-back Adrien Truffert and centre-back Bafode Diakite have joined Bournemouth this summer, with January signing Eli Junior Kroupi also coming into the squad after finishing last season on loan at Lorient.

Double the lanes, double the chance of qualification, double the fun.

That’s the verdict from speed climbers competing in the Speed 4 event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, where the all-new format is making its official competition debut.

Unlike the classic two-lane speed competition, Speed 4 at the Tianfu Park Venue involves climbers racing across four lanes.

In the first qualification round, each climber is invited to race once in each of the four lanes. The top eight climbers with the fastest times after all races are completed progress directly to the quarter-final.

The next 16 climbers, ranked below the top eight, then get a second bite of the cherry through elimination heats.

Divided into four groups of four, they must then complete an additional climb, with the two fastest from each group progressing to the quarter-finals to form a field of 16.

In the quarters, then each climber races once, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals. The process is then repeated in the semi-finals, with the top two advancing to make a field of four for the final.

With the additional lanes and competition opportunity, there is now even more speed climbing to witness, and for some of the top climbers in action in Chengdu, that is one of the biggest perks of the new format.

Despite an injury-induced delay to the start of his season, Olympic 100 metres champion Noah Lyles reckons his form is as good as — if not better than — last summer when he claimed gold in Paris.

Lyles won a thrilling race at the Stade de France just over a year ago by the narrowest of margins and went on to claim bronze in the 200m when suffering from Covid.

For the first time since that Olympic 100m final, the self-proclaimed showman will on Saturday come face to face with Kishane Thompson, the 24-year-old Jamaican he pipped by just five-thousandths of a second in Paris.

“The 100m is obviously the glory race, it’s obviously the one that gets you the most attention,” Lyles said on Friday ahead of the Silesia Diamond League meet in the Polish city of Chorzow.

“I can say that if I’d won the 200m and lost the 100 it wouldn’t have hit the same going back to the US for sure and probably even in the world it’d be a lot different.”

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Lyles played down the fact that he had not met Thompson since that balmy night in the French capital.

“Personally, I wanted to just do a one-on-one race in Jamaica,” he said. “I thought that would have just been amazing, me and Kishane right next to each other, lane by lane, just us two duking it out.

“I feel like we could have sold out the crowd for sure, I thought that would have been a lot of fun.”

Instead, the duo will face off in Poland with Lyles describing his run-in to the September 13-21 world championships in Tokyo as “the most important races of the year”.

“These are the biggest competitions, at high levels. This is literally prepping myself to say, ‘This is what it’s going to be like, if not more intense, as I get closer to Tokyo’.

“I need to get in that frame of mind. So I need to be in those situations.”

Lyles said he was rounding into form: “The results I’ve seen in practice have shown that I’m exactly where I was last year, or heading in the same direction as I was last year, if not better.”

The 28-year-old American predicted a fast race on Saturday, with a quartet of tried and tested US teammates in the shape of Kenny Bednarek, Christian Coleman, Lindsey Courtney and Trayvon Bromell, as well as South African Akani Simbine in the field.

“You basically have the Olympic final maybe missing two people, but adding in some just-as-fast people,” Lyles said.

“Having Kishane there makes it even better. It’s going to be a moment that everyone’s looking at their calendar, saying ‘OK this is what I’m basing my world championships picks off’.”

Lyles, however, was in no doubt about who was the biggest draw.

“I’m going to just put it like this: there are definitely races that have Noah and there are races that don’t have Noah and I’ve watched the numbers for races that don’t have me and they don’t do very well,” he said.

“You watch the races with me and you’re like, ‘Oh wow yeah there’s a lot more viewership’. I’m not saying I’m the face of the sport, I’m just saying that there’s a lot more interest when I run it.

“A showman, a rock star, yes that’s a very good way to describe how I like to view myself when I go into a track meet and how I want to interact with the crowd.”

Is Lyles in form?

Were those comments a shot at Lyles?

After all, Lyles being referred to as the “world’s fastest man” was based on him winning Olympic gold, admittedly the biggest crown in the 100m.

But his 9.79 Paris time was still slower than last year’s world lead (9.77, also belonging to Thompson).

“As athletes, our biggest competitors are ourselves and injuries,” Thompson added in Budapest before his 9.95-second win.

Lyles can attest to that, having started his own season late. He’s raced in just two 100m races this year, at the London Diamond League — he came second in 10.00 seconds to Oblique Seville — and the heats of the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships.

While it’s an eagerly awaited rematch, is Lyles in the required form?

The U.S. sprint star may be playing the long game, with the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September still ahead to wrap up the season.

And the story might not be just Thompson versus Lyles.

With Kenny Bednarek — with whom Lyles has also had recent disagreements —, Akani Simbine, Christian Coleman, Courtney Lindsey and Trayvon Bromell all also in the field, the Paris rematch might not take the headlines by the end of the race.

Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the press ahead of our opening game of the Premier League season against Manchester United.

During the press conference at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, Mikel was asked about the squad availability, facing the Red Devils and the success of our academy.

Find out what he had to say with our transcript below!

on how excited he is for the new season:
I’m super excited, I can’t wait. It’s been a really productive pre-season. We’ve made such an evolution in the squad as well and we’re ready to go.

on the mood in the place:
The mood of the place, the energy around it, the enthusiasm that the boys, the staff came with from day one, now we’re going to do better, to keep improving as a team and to win. That’s what drives my energy and that’s why I’m so excited.

on Leandro Trossard’s availability:
I think he’s much better. I think he will be able to train again tomorrow and if that’s the case, he will be fit.

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on if we need to make a sales in the transfer window:
I’ll leave that to Andrea [Berta] and the club. My main focus is just about performing, preparing the games in the best possible way and winning. Now we start the season, it’s been a long off-season, pre-season with the market and being so active in it.

on starting the season with tough games:
We need to play each other, we need to play at some point, and we’ll start at an incredible stadium with so much history and a beautiful way to start the season. We will go game-by-game and make the best preparations and then perform to earn the right to win the game.

on the potential for winning the title:
Yes, especially the consistency that we’ve shown in the last three years. Now the margins, we know how small they are, we know the competition as well has increased the level, with recruitment, with another year together and we’re going to have to win.

on how many teams can win the Premier League:
A lot, too many! And it’s getting stronger and stronger. There are teams that maybe you don’t put them on a piece of paper right now, but suddenly they will surprise everybody. The squads, the quality of the managers, the structure they have in the clubs, they are so strong. It’s going to be very difficult.

on what to expect from Manchester United:
They will be different as well. The manager will have more time with them, they have a pre-season, they make some really good signings as well, like anybody else. I think they strengthened and they will be better than last year, like the rest of the teams.

on what made us sign Viktor Gyokeres:
I can just talk about Viktor and how happy we are to have him. I think he’s going to have a tremendous impact in the team. The adaptation has been very, very good and we’re really happy to have him.

on Odegaard being our captain:
Well, my opinion is clear. It’s not just my opinion, it’s all the staff and especially the players. I asked them to vote the captain and I got the result yesterday. And by a mile, by a big, big 100 marks, everybody’s choosing the same person, which is Martin Odegaard, which is the most clear sign that you can have, how they feel about who has to be their captain to defend, improve and win the matches that we want to win. So, I mean, there’s no question about that.

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on how much the club has supported him in the transfer window this summer:
It’s not just supporting me, of course, but supporting the team, supporting the vision, the idea and especially the ambition. And the level that we are playing, the competition we have and what we expect to do. So, we have to improve the squad, we have to improve the quality and the depth of that squad. And we certainly have done it in a really great way.

on getting the best version of Gyokeres:
Well, we want to do everything. First of all, understanding the player and exposing the player to the conditions that he can fulfil his incredible potential. Then that’s going to be the key, and the good thing is that many players, many strikers, they have come from different leagues, they have come to the Premier League and been successful. And it’s for us, creating the right context for Viktor to do what he does best, which is to score goals.

on standout memories against Manchester United:
Well, it’s a lot. Some great memories. It’s history, you know. The clashes when I was younger as well, there were some massive characters as well, playing for both teams. And it created something different in those games. And now it is different, but I think it’s going to be super intense and very exciting.

on if he’s as excited as he was ahead of previous seasons:
I think it gets you more and more excited. And the more I spend time with the players and the staff, the more reason they give me to come every single day with a big smile on my face, with a lot of energy, I’m very enthusiastic about what we do and very privileged.

on the chance to get wins from difficult games early on:
Yes, 100 per cent. It’s a big opportunity to go to Old Trafford on day one and go there and play the way we want to play and win the game. That’s the focus and the energy.

on if there is more pressure on us to win the title this season:
You keep digging, digging, digging. You have to keep digging because one day, the gold is going to be there. That’s all the time, what I’ve been taught, I’ve been educated and that’s it. For three seasons, we have more points than any other team in this league. It’s incredible, that’s why we have all the consistency. Now we have to do it in a season, to earn one more point or the same amount of points and more goals different than any other team. That’s the objective.

on having multiple young players available from our academy:
Well, that shows the great work that has been done in the academy throughout the years. Especially because those players have come to the first team and performed at the highest level without any professional experience. And that’s a very different case to any other player at a big club that has been playing at 17, 18, 19, 20 with many other experiences before that that is long, so playing at different teams. So that shows again what the academy has done, the preparation of these boys,  the maturity of these boys, and as well the quality that we have in this squad to support the young players, to feel so comfortable immediately to perform at the highest level. So it’s a compliment for everybody at the club.

on if Gyokeres is ready to start on Sunday:
Yeah, he’s getting better and better every day. He’s normally a really fit player. It’s true that he hasn’t trained so much with us. He had those two moments in games when he’s participated and the feeling was very good. So let’s see what we do on Sunday. 

on if he’s had to manage availability differently with Calafiori and Havertz:
Well, especially because those two cases, they were players that were coming back from long-term injuries. So, we have to be very cautious throughout pre-season, especially when you start to travel abroad and there are so many conditions that change for those players. We have more players, more balance as well in terms of availability. We have improved that in relation to the individual qualities of players as well and it’s going to be key to maintain them for as long as we possibly can. Fit, available, at their best. 

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on if Zubimendi is available for Sunday:
Yes, he had a great integration. As everybody can see this immediately, a very big impact on the team. I’m really happy and he will be fit. 

on if it’s a fight between Gyokeres and Havertz for the number nine position:
Well, it’s always good. I play with 11 players, there are going to be some players on the bench that are going to be used, some others that cannot be used, some players that we’re going to have to leave in the stands. That’s the level. That’s the next level that we’re going to face, something that we probably haven’t faced before and then I heard a lot that you have two players per position. Well, we have three and four because there are players that can play in different positions as well. So, it’s going to be about earning the right to play, to compete and when you don’t have the chance to do that, to cooperate in the right way with any teammate to improve the level. It’s going to happen to all of them because the season is going to be so demanding that the first week is going to be a little bit different. But the moment we start to play three times a week, it’s going to flow in a really natural way.

on if we have enough in attacking midfield:
I think we have great versatility, very different qualities in relation to the opposition as well. We can manipulate that and have some great cohesion within those units. So, I’m very happy with that. 

on what he’s earned going into this season from last season’s reflections:
It was a long list of things. First of all, with the amount of situations we have to deal with, I think the team showed an incredible capacity to adapt and win a lot of matches in a very different context. Something that is not common and I revised that in the last Premier League for 20 years and what happened. After that, how we have to evolve as well, the squad, the individuals, certain roles that have changed and it’s the moment to move away from that. And then what is the real deal? What are the things that we have to continue to do or do better to give us the best possible chance to win the major trophies? And that’s clear. 

on the evolution of our midfield:
There are a few in relation to the players that we have and their qualities. Now we have probably elements and possibilities that we never had before and some others that will emerge naturally that probably are not in the book. So that’s a really good weapon to have. 

on the players voting for who our captain is:
Especially because we change a lot and we change all the leadership groups because a lot of the players that were there, they are gone. So, we need to re-establish that, and it gives you so much information, how they feel about themselves and who they see as a leader and how they see the people that can join that leadership group.
So, it was really interesting to analyse all the data and to gather information. 

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on the captaincy qualities Martin has:
We all see it different and if we’re going to talk about leadership and the kind of leaders, we can be here for hours. So at the end, what matters the most is how these guys feel about who needs to lead them, how they feel comfortable, who’s going to push them, who’s going to give them support when it’s happening. Basically, who do you want to represent the club and the team when we go out there and face any opposition? That’s the key.

on tweaks to the rules in the Premier League and what happened last season:
It was very particular, and it only lasts for a few weeks and we were really punished for those few weeks but hopefully it won’t happen again.
I think they’ve been very clear, we have very good meetings with the referees when we came here and in the manager’s meeting as well. I think it’s very clear what to expect and wish everybody the best. I think we’re going to need the best of all of us and to have the best Premier League ever, which I think is going to happen, and hopefully we’re going to come on top of that.

on if the rules will be implemented more consistently:
I think, and a lot of the data says, that there have been many, many improvements as well in the last year or two and we need to reinforce that message and try that process and support it.