Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White has just one month to secure a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad after a sensational surge in goalscoring form.
A stunning hat-trick against Burnley on Sunday served as a timely reminder of his top-level credentials.
The 26-year-old was omitted from the 35-man national squad for recent friendlies against Japan and Uruguay.
However, the City Ground favourite is currently one of the Premier League’s most in-form players, registering eight goals in his past 13 appearances.
Competition for the number 10 role
National team manager Tuchel must submit his final tournament selection by Saturday, 30 May.
The Three Lions will subsequently begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June.
Gibbs-White faces intense competition from established attacking midfielders such as Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer.
Despite this fierce rivalry, the Forest attacker is currently the second-highest English scorer in the top flight with 12 goals, trailing only Brighton’s Danny Welbeck.
Tactical adjustments and underlying numbers
Only Foden and Bellingham have created more chances per 90 minutes than the former Under-17 World Cup winner.
However, his underlying statistics reveal potential areas of concern for the England coaching staff.
The midfielder averages just 3.5 touches in the opposition penalty area per match and ranks poorly for ball recoveries.
These figures may be heavily influenced by Forest’s broader domestic struggles, with the squad having adapted to four different managers this term.
International pedigree
Gibbs-White is highly regarded within the national set-up following his triumph at the Under-21 European Championship three years ago.
He has earned six senior caps to date but played just 89 minutes in total across those appearances.
His last international outing came during a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wales last October.
With the final squad deadline rapidly approaching, a late run for a seat on the plane to North America remains a distinct possibility.
RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes both scored career playoff highs of 33 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 126-104 to halve their first-round series deficit.
Cleveland still lead the best-of-seven tie 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Toronto.
The Canadian franchise produced their best performance of the postseason, pulling away from a halftime tie with a dominant 43-23 fourth quarter.
Record-breaking rookie aids historic duo
Toronto-born Barrett and his fellow forward Barnes became just the third Raptors pairing to each register 30 points in a single playoff game.
They join legendary franchise duos Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry, as well as Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, in achieving the prestigious feat.
“A night like tonight was good to build some confidence and just show that we’re here,” Barrett said.
“When we play like how we did today, everybody together, everybody’s playing hard, locked in on the game plan, we can make some noise.”
The hosts were heavily bolstered by a sensational shooting display, hitting 61% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Off the bench, Collin Murray-Boyles set a team rookie record with 22 points, while Jamison Battle sunk four three-pointers in his series debut.
Defensive discipline stifles Cavaliers stars
At the other end of the court, Toronto completely nullified Cleveland’s formidable attacking trio.
Donovan Mitchell was restricted to just 15 points, whilst James Harden managed 18 points alongside eight costly turnovers.
Evan Mobley was similarly contained, finishing with 15 points on 4-of-13 shooting.
Head coach Darko Rajakovic praised his team’s defensive structure, singling out Barnes for his relentless defensive shifts against both Harden and Mitchell.
“He did everything for us tonight,” Rajakovic noted.
The 23-year-old All-Star also contributed 11 assists and five rebounds in a magnificent all-around display.
“Those guys are really talented scorers. You just got to try to be physical, show bodies and try to play super hard,” Barnes explained.
Former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis has hailed Oleksandr Usyk as a worthy successor to his heavyweight legacy following the Ukrainian’s era-defining victories.
The British boxing icon remains one of the sport’s most revered figures after walking away at the absolute pinnacle of the heavyweight division.
Lewis believes the current unified king has well and truly earned his place among the all-time greats of the ring.
“Oleksandr Usyk is a great champion, a great person, he trains hard.”
Lewis told Sky Sports.
“He’s done it all. He’s sacrificed. He’s got a great family and he deserves his flowers.”
Cementing a historic boxing legacy
The formidable southpaw became the first undisputed heavyweight ruler since Lewis when he initially defeated Tyson Fury in 2024.
Since that historic night, the undefeated gold medallist has cemented his dominance with a second consecutive victory over the “Gypsy King”.
This unparalleled modern resume also includes back-to-back triumphs against former unified titlist Anthony Joshua and explosive knockout artist Daniel Dubois.
The veteran titleholder is now preparing for an unconventional WBC title defence against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in Egypt.
The eternal struggle of retirement
As the reigning champion approaches the twilight of his career, his predecessor warned of the psychological challenges that accompany stepping away from the sport.
The temptation to return frequently plagues legendary fighters, with domestic rival Fury famously retiring and unretiring on multiple occasions.
Even a fiercely disciplined professional like Lewis found it incredibly difficult to resist the lure of a lucrative boxing comeback.
“Many times I felt like jumping back in the ring. But focus, discipline kept me out.”
Lewis explained.
“Let me tell you it was hard. I wanted to retire and say I’m not coming back and it was hard to stay out of the ring.”
Walking away on top
A high-profile broadcasting role with HBO kept the London-born hall-of-famer dangerously close to the heavyweight action.
However, the personal conviction that he had nothing left to prove ultimately secured his permanent exit from active competition.
His final professional appearance was a violent stoppage victory over future dominant force Vitali Klitschko.
“My trainer Emanuel [Steward] said ‘listen, you can beat the present and the future with this fight’ and I said, ‘Well, I’ll take it.'”
Lewis recalled.
The legendary prizefighter ultimately achieved his lifelong ambition of emulating Muhammad Ali by capturing every available accolade on his path to immortality.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have selected offensive tackle Max Iheanachor from Arizona State with the 21st overall pick in the NFL Draft to address injury concerns.
Former running back Jerome Bettis announced the unexpected first-round pick to a home crowd twirling ‘Terrible Towels’ in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
The host franchise opted to reinforce their protection after the Philadelphia Eagles traded ahead of them to secure wide receiver Makai Lemon.
Addressing offensive line uncertainty
General manager Omar Khan admitted the organisation trusted their draft board after the available receiver options diminished.
“You trust your board, but the way it shook out, it brought us to tackle, and it was the right pick for us,” Khan said.
This marks the third time in four seasons that the six-time Super Bowl champions have used their opening selection on an offensive tackle.
Khan previously traded up for Georgia’s Broderick Jones in 2023, before drafting Washington product Troy Fautanu the following year.
However, Jones is currently recovering from a season-ending neck injury and subsequent surgery, leaving his immediate future murky.
Untapped potential from the Sun Devils
Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the coaching staff recently held a video call with the Arizona State prospect.
The highly-rated rookie started playing American football relatively late in life, having previously focused on soccer and basketball.
“His biggest thing when you watch lineman play, you want to see him strike and stick,” McCarthy explained.
The Pittsburgh head coach added that the rookie’s balance and footwork stood out to the scouting department during evaluating sessions.
The promising blocker spent two seasons at East Los Angeles College before transferring to the Sun Devils in 2023.
He secured the full-time starting right tackle role in 2024, demonstrating the positional flexibility that appealed to the Steelers’ front office.
Khan remains confident that the team’s newest addition possesses significant room for athletic growth.
“He hasn’t played a lot of football in his life, and he’s only going to get better.”
CJ McCollum hit a fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining to secure a 109-108 victory for the Atlanta Hawks over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday.
Following his stellar performance in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, the veteran guard delivered again by sinking a 15-foot shot to finish with 23 points.
The hosts had controlled the majority of the contest at State Farm Arena, establishing a commanding 18-point advantage in the first half.
Late drama seals dramatic finish
However, the visitors mounted a fierce comeback, edging ahead 108-105 when Jalen Brunson completed a crucial three-point play with just over a minute left.
Jalen Johnson, who top-scored for the Georgia franchise with 24 points, subsequently closed the gap with a composed finish inside the paint.
A missed three-point attempt by Josh Hart gave the home side an opening, and despite securing the offensive rebound, the away side committed a costly shot-clock violation.
Kuminga impact stunts Knicks revival
Following McCollum’s decisive strike, Jonathan Kuminga stripped the ball from Brunson to ensure time expired before a final response could be launched.
Kuminga proved instrumental off the bench, contributing 21 vital points to halt the momentum of the recovering New York roster.
OG Anunoby was the standout offensive performer for the losing team with a game-high 29 points, while Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns added 26 and 21 respectively.
First-half dominance establishes foundation
The foundations for the narrow victory were laid early, as the home team outscored their opponents 27-12 over the final seven minutes of the first quarter.
That commanding stretch featured three consecutive shots from beyond the arc, initiated by little-used center Mouhamed Gueye.
The defensive prowess of the match-winner was also on full display, notably blocking a clear drive to the basket by Hart to regain possession during a crucial exchange.
Game 4 of this tightly contested postseason battle will take place on Saturday in Atlanta.
The result leaves the Eastern Conference challengers facing a crucial weekend clash to avoid falling into an almost insurmountable 3-1 series deficit.
The Philadelphia Eagles have traded up with NFC East rivals the Dallas Cowboys to select USC wide receiver Makai Lemon with the 20th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
To secure the 20th selection, Philadelphia sent the 23rd overall pick alongside two fourth-round choices to Dallas.
In return, the Eagles also received a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Texan franchise.
Brown departure looms over Philadelphia
The arrival of a highly-rated collegiate prospect adds further weight to reports suggesting AJ Brown will soon depart Lincoln Financial Field.
Sources indicate the prolific receiver is likely to be traded to the New England Patriots on or after 1 June.
A delayed agreement allows Brown’s substantial $40m (£32m) salary cap hit to be spread out across the next two seasons.
Offseason receiver overhaul
Lemon joins a rapidly evolving offensive roster following a busy period of recruitment by the Eagles’ front office.
Philadelphia has already signed free agents Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore to bolster their attacking options.
The franchise also acquired Dontayvion Wicks via a trade with the Green Bay Packers earlier this offseason.
A prolific collegiate career
The former Trojans standout arrives in the NFL on the back of an exceptional final year in college football.
The All-American pass-catcher recorded 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.
Over his collegiate career, the dynamic playmaker amassed over 2,000 receiving yards and found the endzone 14 times.
The Las Vegas Raiders have selected highly rated prospect Mendoza with the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on a night dominated by Ohio State.
The widely anticipated decision saw the AFC West franchise secure their preferred target early on Thursday evening.
Mendoza had been the overwhelming favourite throughout the pre-draft evaluation process.
Further down the board, the Arizona Cardinals made a historic move by drafting running back Love at number three overall.
The dynamic prospect becomes only the third player at his position to be taken in the top three over the past two decades.
He joins elite company alongside former early selections Saquon Barkley and Trent Richardson.
Buckeyes dominate top selections
The opening round of the annual selection event was heavily influenced by collegiate powerhouse Ohio State.
Three former Buckeyes prospects, Reese, Carnell Tate and Sonny Styles, were all drafted inside the top 10.
This remarkable achievement marks only the second time the illustrious programme has reached that specific milestone in the modern era.
It is also the first occasion any university has boasted three top-10 picks since Alabama achieved the feat in 2021.
Record-breaking youth and depth
The historic night for the Columbus-based team continued just outside the top 10.
Standout prospect Caleb Downs was selected 11th overall.
That move made Ohio State just the third school in history to have four players taken within the first 11 picks.
Meanwhile, the draft class also featured remarkable youth among its premier collegiate graduates.
One highly touted talent became the third-youngest player picked in the top five since 2000 at just 20 years and 236 days old.
He trails only Kyle Pitts Sr and Jamal Lewis in the historical youth rankings according to draft analysts.
The Los Angeles Rams have selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the NFL Draft to eventually succeed veteran Matthew Stafford.
The 38-year-old Stafford is entering his 18th professional season and recently claimed the league’s MVP award in 2025.
Despite his continued elite performance, the experienced signal-caller has not publicly confirmed how much longer he intends to play.
McVay communicates long-term vision
Head coach Sean McVay personally informed his current starter of the franchise’s decision on Thursday.
The organisation reportedly made it entirely clear that the rookie arrival is strictly preparation for whenever their Super Bowl-winning veteran decides to retire.
Speaking at the annual league meeting in March, the Rams boss acknowledged that the team must carefully balance both short-term ambitions and long-term stability under centre.
A standout career at Alabama
During his final collegiate campaign, the highly-rated prospect threw for 3,567 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 64.5% of his passes.
The former Crimson Tide standout entered the evaluation process widely regarded as the second-best passer in his class.
He sat just behind Indiana prospect Fernando Mendoza, who was taken first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders earlier in the evening.
Rams execute revised strategy
Los Angeles had originally eyed their new offensive talent for the 29th selection before altering their overall draft capital.
That later first-round pick was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in early March as part of a blockbuster package to acquire All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The incoming rookie now joins a quarterback room that also features Stetson Bennett IV.
The 2023 fourth-round selection has served as the third-string option in California over the past two seasons.