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Newcastle United’s academy has produced some fine players for the first-team over the years, including current midfielder Sean Longstaff.

In addition, the likes of Steven Taylor, Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi all played for the Magpies after coming through the youth ranks.

However, not every player who has had a successful career after playing in the academy in Tyneside managed to make it whilst they were at Newcastle.

Big blunder

One player with whom the club had a shocker was right-back James Tavernier, who has exploded since leaving the club as a youngster.

Transfermarkt claim that he joined Wigan for a meagre fee of £90k in the summer of 2014. He spent one year with the Latics before signing for Scottish giants Rangers, where he was valued at £315k during his first season at Ibrox.

Over the subsequent six-and-a-half years, the 6 foot machine has racked up 330 competitive appearances for the Light Blues in all competitions. He has scored a whopping 75 goals and provided 104 assists for the club, all whilst playing at right-back.

This shows that he has come on leaps and bounds since he was initially valued at £90k by the Newcastle board. He has been consistently superb for the Scottish champions over the course of a number of years, as shown by his statistics, and he has earned plenty of acclaim along the way.

Former Gers head coach and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard previously heaped praise on the defender, saying: “I think Tav is someone who, when he goes through the gears, is unstoppable, and we have seen that, or flashes of that so far this season. I think he is really close to being at his best.”

“Tav is a huge player. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves I don’t think from our own supporters or the credit he deserves from outside.

“I think he needs to go and win something as a captain and a leader to really get the credit he deserves, but to see him on a daily basis, I am certainly someone who really appreciates him for us.”

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At the time of writing (09/03/2022), Transfermarkt value Tavernier at £6.3m. This is a sensational 6,900% increase on the £90k for which he reportedly departed the Magpies back in 2014.

Therefore, the Toon missed out on a major payday in comparison to what they got for selling him to Wigan, whilst also missing out on his talents at right-back. His ability to score and set up goals on a regular basis could have been useful for Newcastle over the years.

Instead, they got a mere £90k and Rangers ended up with a brilliant player further down the line, which is why the Tyneside club had a shocker with this particular academy product.

AND in other news, Forget Trippier: Ashworth can seal instant NUFC masterclass with “promising” £17m gem…

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Matthew Hayden proved how important he is to the Australia top order with 103 © Getty Images

Matthew Hayden made history by getting to 30 Test centuries faster than anyone else, but the overall theme on the third day was slowness, with a usually dominant Australian batting line-up stymied by some disciplined and committed bowling from the Indians. Ishant Sharma epitomised that with a magnificent spell of 9-2-10-1 after lunch, and Hayden’s wicket was rich reward.But a dogged innings from Ricky Ponting and his unbeaten 81-run partnership with Michael Clarke ensured that there would be no danger of India enforcing the follow on. They ended the day still 204 adrift of India’s 526, with the run-machine having been reduced to a relative crawl.The foundation had been set by a 160-run opening partnership between Hayden and Phil Jaques, but that ended just after lunch when Jaques had an ugly mow at Anil Kumble bowling round the wicket. The ball barely bounced, and sneaked under the bat to bowl him for 60. Ponting’s arrival also meant that Kumble took himself out of the attack to bring on Harbhajan Singh.But unlike on five previous occasions, Ponting survived his first-ball rendezvous with Harbhajan, and all eyes turned to Hayden as he sought to make his third century of the series. Cutting and sweeping with typical power, it took him 181 balls and it was wholly appropriate that the 100th run was reached with a sweep to midwicket. An Australia Day crowd – it was also India’s Republic Day – of 26,720 gave him a standing ovation.He couldn’t bask in the acclaim too long though, upstaged by the young man whose spell to Ponting in Perth announced the arrival of a special talent. Ishant was impeccable with his line, and got enough reverse swing and movement off the pitch to have the batsmen constantly guessing.Ponting survived some nervy moments, but Hayden didn’t, comprehensively beaten by one that swung in and nipped back off the seam. By the time Kumble took Ishant off, he had brought the innings to a standstill. The other bowlers weren’t as effective though, and Ponting finally shed the shackles when he pulled Irfan Pathan for a four off the 53rd ball that he faced.Hussey swept and drove Kumble with great confidence, and with Harbhajan unable to work his magic on Ponting, it was India that were looking a little bereft of ideas. But as often happens, an interval changed the complexion of the game. Hussey edged Kumble’s first ball after tea low to the right of first slip where Rahul Dravid couldn’t hold on to a difficult chance. Soon after, a vociferous leg-before shout from Pathan was turned down.It turned out to have no bearing on the proceedings, as Pathan then summoned up an absolute peach that swung in to rattle the top of off stump. Hussey was gone for 22, and Australia were suddenly looking a lot less secure. Ponting played one gorgeous cover-drive off Kumble, but was otherwise nowhere near his fluent best. It was left to Clarke to inject some momentum, and he did so with a lofted on-drive and a cut past point in a Kumble over.By the time Ponting eased past 50, it had taken him 114 balls and 197 minutes, the slowest of his career. With Kumble then favouring Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan in tandem for a short while, there was almost a long lull, and the crowd’s reverie was shattered only by Ponting cutting a wide one from Harbhajan for four. There was some drama in the climactic stages, with Sehwag having a huge appeal turned down for a catch at slip. Replays suggested that the ball had gone off the forearm, and that Billy Bowden had made the right decision.

	Ishant Sharma bowled superbly but there were not too many chances for India to celebrate on the third day © Getty Images

It was only after 107.2 overs that India chose to take the new ball, and Ponting quickly pounced with two fours off an Ishant over. But the late flourish couldn’t obscure the fact that he and his side had been made to work incredibly hard for their runs. Having gotten used to rattling along at four an over, they had to settle for a day when runs came at an old-world pace.There had been much more intent in the morning, with Hayden to the fore. In his absence, there had been stutters at the start in Perth, but normal service was resumed at the Adelaide Oval on another bright and stiflingly hot morning. Indian hopes of bowling Australia out cheaply were badly dented before play commenced, with the news that RP Singh would play no part in the day’s proceedings, and perhaps the rest of the match, as a result of a hamstring strain.Kumble opened with Ishant at one end, and Harbhajan at the other, but though there was fairly sharp turn and variable bounce, Australia weathered the early challenge. A 21-gun salute down on the River Torrens caused a brief interruption, but with the mind once again focussed, Hayden raced to 50 with two screeching cuts off Harbhajan. Soon after, Kumble opted to try another pace-spin combination, with Pathan complementing his legspin. But by then, Hayden was in the mood, with an emphatic cut and delicate glide off Pathan highlighting that power could also be allied to finesse.India went into a huddle at the second drinks break, but chances continued to be at a premium on a surface where there were still plenty of runs to be scored. After a good leg-before appeal was turned down, Pathan and Hayden briefly had words before Bowden stepped in to calm things down. And Hayden showed that it hadn’t disrupted his concentration in any way with a huge six over long-on off Kumble.Jaques then swung one past the fielder at midwicket, eliciting anguished gasps from the fielders, and a firm push past mid-off took him to a half-century, ending a relatively fallow run in the second and third Tests. But after 97 runs in that session, the match became a battle of attrition, with both sides having something to smile about. The big picture too slowly took shape, with a draw appearing the most likely result.

West Indies B 97 and 149 beat Kenya 149 and 85 by 12 runs
ScorecardJason Bennett grabbed a hat-trick and Dwight Washington picked up three wickets of his own, as West Indies B pulled off a dramatic 12-run victory over Kenya from an apparently hopeless situation. Set 98 to win, the Kenyans crumbled to 85 all out midway the final session at Edgar Gilbert Park. Bennett removed Collins Obuya (1), Martin Suji (0) and Peter Ongondo (0) with consecutive deliveries to finish with figures of 3 for 23 off 12 overs, and a match haul of 8 for 68.Guyana 108 and 307 for 6 trail Barbados 422 for 7 dec by seven runs
ScorecardKrishna Arjune and Sewnarine Chattergoon both missed out on their second regional first-class hundreds, but they nonetheless led a Guyana fightback against Barbados in their opening round match of the Carib Beer 2004 Cricket Series at Kensington Oval yesterday. Guyana, trailing Barbados by 314 on first innings, were 307 for 6 in their second innings when bad light stopped play three overs early.Trinidad & Tobago 335 and 122 for 4 lead Leeward Islands 324 by 133 runs
ScorecardLeeward Islands conceded first-innings points to Trinidad & Tobago, but captured four wickets late on the third day to claw their way back into contention at Guaracara Park. Trinidad & Tobago led by 11 runs on first innings, and were 122 for 4 in their second innings when rain and bad light stopped play 13 overs early.Jamaica 266 and 238 for 6 lead Windward Islands 273 by 231 runs
ScorecardAfter conceding a slim seven-run first-innings deficit to the Windward Islands, Jamaica were battling back on 238 for 6 at the close of the third day at Beausejour. Tamar Lambert produced another defiant knock to finish unbeaten on 44. The Windwards had owed their position to a 67-run ninth-wicket partnership between Shane Shillingford and Fernix Thomas.

Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore jumped to the defense of his prize bowlerMuttiah Muralitharan on Tuesday after former Indian spin great Bishen Bedilikened the off-spinner’s action to that of a “good javelin thrower.”Bedi, speaking to , said: “If Murali doesn’t chuck, then show me how to bowl. How can you call it bowling? He (Muralitharan) has nofollow-through and he makes no use of his shoulders. He looks like a goodjavelin thrower.”Whatmore, both surprised and annoyed by Bedi’s comments, said: “The teamwere astonished and disappointed to hear such comments come out of the blue.It’s like living in the past. This issue has been dealt with in detailbefore and experts have cleared his action.”It’s sad really that a fellow, who was a good bowler in his day, wishes toavoid the indisputable facts. It’s a negative for cricket in general.”It’s nearly three years since the last controversy over Muralitharan’saction, when he was no balled by umpire Ross Emerson in a one-day game atAdelaide.”I don’t why the issue has suddenly arisen again,” questioned Whatmore.”Perhaps it’s a reaction to him taking 400 Test wickets?”Whatmore was also taken aback by Bedi’s insinuation that Muralitharan hadbeen given special treatment because of a congenital deformity in his rightelbow, saying: “Some people are born blind… Will a blind man be allowed tofly an aircraft? So why should a bowler be allowed to chuck because he has adefective arm?””Muralitharan has a disability in his right arm,” said Whatmore. “He has nooption but to live with it. However, the defect doesn’t mean anything otherthan he can’t fully straighten his arm.”The Sri Lankan born, Australian raised Whatmore, who has coachedMuralitharan for Sri Lanka and Lancashire for nearly six years, revealedthat Muralitharan was aware of the comments and not unduly worried by them.”Murali is frustrated that this has been dragged up again. But this has allbeen scrutinised in much detail before and he is free of guilt having beencleared by experts. He was the full support of the team, coach, physio andmanagement and will just get on with his cricket.

Punjab’s Ranji Trophy team, on the crest of a wave after crushinginnings victories in their first two games, soared to 281/3 in theirlatest North Zone league tie against Haryana at Amritsar. OpenerManish Sharma’s 131 was the backbone of the Punjab effort while AKakkar and Pankaj Dharmani weighed in with half centuries.After winning the toss and batting, Punjab was assisted by the latearrival of Haryana wicketkeeper Ajay Ratra who had to rush from Indoreafter turning out on the previous day for National Cricket Academyagainst Zimbabwe. For the first session and a half, Haryana had onlyten men on the field. Punjab would have been in a similar predicamenthad they fielded first since they had on their rolls, Reetinder Sodhiwho also played in the afore-mentioned game against Zimbabwe.Manish Sharma who batted at No.6 and No.3 in Punjab’s first two gameswith conspicuous lack of success greeted his return to the openingspot with relish. After losing opening partner skipper Vikram Rathourat 36, Manish and Kakkar added 126 for the second wicket. Haryana’sRatra took over the wicketkeeping gloves from substitute Jasvir Singhafter the post-lunch drinks interval, and in the second over after thebreak, pouched Kakkar for 52.Manish and Dharmani added a further 89 for the third wicket before theformer’s five and a half hour occupation of the crease was terminatedby another Ratra catch. His 131, scored off 256 balls, was studdedwith 14 fours and 4 sixes. Dharmani who completed the quickest fiftyof the day (from 87 balls) and last game’s triple centurion DineshMongia took Punjab safely through to stumps. The hosts are without theservices of Ravneet Ricky who will be doing duty for the BoardPresident’s XI against Zimbabwe from November 13-15.

Antonio Conte must decide whether to freshen things up or stick with the Tottenham Hotspur side that romped to victory at the weekend when his side face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup fifth round this evening.

Spurs thrashed Leeds United 4-0 on Saturday, a result which saw Marcelo Bielsa sacked from his position, whilst it’s still four defeats in six outings for the Italian head coach.

This competition provides one final chance of silverware in his maiden season at the club, having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and the Europa Conference League.

And there’s still a place inside the Premier League’s top four up for grabs, too.

It will certainly be interesting to see what sort of lineup he’ll opt for up in the northeast, here’s what we are predicting ahead of kickoff…

There could be four changes from the weekend as Conte looks for fresh legs without losing their quality.

The 52-year-old is never one to change goalkeeper, regardless of the competition, so skipper Hugo Lloris remains between the sticks but there are two alterations to the back three in front of him.

In come Joe Rodon and Davinson Sanchez to partner Ben Davies. They will hand Eric Dier and Cristian Romero a much-needed rest as they have only recently returned from their respective injuries.

Conte will need them for the remainder of the season, so he may not want to risk them.

A resurgent Matt Doherty keeps his spot over Emerson at right wing-back, whilst the third change sees Sergio Reguilon return to the side after missing five of the last six Premier League outings.

Ryan Sessegnon has deputised well but the 25-year-old Spaniard is the first choice and desperately needs some minutes under his belt.

In midfield, due to the lack of alternatives, both Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Winks are expected to remain with the likes of deadline day signing Rodrigo Bentancur and Oliver Skipp still absent through injury.

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The fourth and final switch could be in the attack as Steven Bergwijn is gifted a rare start, taking the place of another January addition in Dejan Kulusevski, who has made an instant impact at Spurs.

He could be rested, so the Dutch international joins Heung-min Son and Harry Kane in the attack, where Conte will undoubtedly be wanting them to make a quick mark before being withdrawn early on.

AND in other news, Conte could unearth Tottenham’s next Skipp in 20 y/o terrier once dubbed a “coach’s dream”…

ScorecardThe newly laid pitches at the tsunami-struck Galle International Stadium continuedto intrigue batsmen when Basnahira North secured an easy seven-wicket win overRuhuna in the Inter-provincial limited-over tournament match.Sent into bat, Ruhuna were bowled out for 102 inside 38 overs with only Sanath Jayasuriya, their captain, able to stand off Basnahira’s attack. He scored 27 off 33 balls – he had to retire hurt on one but the fall of a succession of wickets forced him to return – after Chaminda Vaas had tore through the top order. He captured three wickets in his third over to leave Basnahira reeling at 4 for 3 before Upal Tharanga’s dismissal on 20 brought Jayasuriya back in the middle. He managed to somewhat steady the innings before edging behind with the score on 55.Vaas’ initial spell of five overs yielded three wickets for 11 runs and he wasnot needed further in the innings as Gayan Wijekoon and Dhammika Prasad cleaned upthe rest of the batting sharing six wickets.Basnahira North lost three wickets for 29 runs when they began their run chase, butthe result was never in doubt as Kaushal Silva and Thilina Kandamby, with plenty ofovers in hand, formed a 75-run unbroken fourth-wicket partnership off 18overs to seal a comfortable victory.