Sunderland have turned the Stadium of Light into a fortress ever since promotion to the Premier League was clinched.

Regis Le Bris’ men do have their unbelievable home record to thank for their sixth-place position at the moment, with defeat yet to be tasted on Wearside from eight league contests.

Even Mikel Arteta’s table-topping Arsenal couldn’t get the better of the stern hosts back in November in a thrilling 2-2 draw, with Sunderland also gaining bragging rights over arch rivals Newcastle United on their own patch, recently, by confidently beating Eddie Howe’s perplexed visitors by a solitary goal.

Still, if the right opportunity opens up in the January transfer window, Le Bris and Co would surely explore the potential of some moves…

Sunderland offered chance to sign new striker

Sunderland’s squad will be stretched over the course of the next month or so, with the likes of Noah Sadiki and Reinildo out of action at the African Cup of Nations, meaning some fresh reinforcements could come in handy.

Amazingly, though, it’s not in central midfield or defence where the Black Cats could improve, with reports from Italy now suggesting that the Premier League newcomers might surprisingly swoop for AS Roma forward Artem Dobvyk, when the hectic window reopens.

A whole host of Premier League clubs are interested in the services of the Ukrainian, according to the report, with West Ham United alleged to be looking at the 28-year-old as a replacement for Niclas Fullkrug.

Moreover, Sunderland are judged to be in the race for the Roma number nine, too, with the Serie A club’s sporting director, Ricky Massara, offering Dobvyk to Le Bris and Co, owing to Sunderland’s current director of football in Florent Ghisolfi, previously being employed by the Italian titans.

Sunderland won’t just view this as a nice gesture between two old connections, however, with the 6-foot-2 marksman’s goalscoring prowess playing in Italy and beyond, making him stick out as an upgrade on both Wilson Isidor and Brian Brobbey.

How Dovbyk would be an upgrade on Isidor & Brobbey

While the Black Cats do sit pretty in sixth position in the Premier League standings at the moment, they aren’t always the most free-flowing team to take in.

Indeed, Sunderland have only put away a weak 19 goals in league action so far this season, with the likes of Manchester City – helped by the superhuman efforts of Erling Haaland – boasting a far superior 41 goals, just behind Arsenal at the very top of the division.

Isidor & Brobbey’s PL numbers this season

Stat

Isidor

Brobbey

Games played

17

12

Goals scored

4

2

Assists

0

1

Goal conversion %

13%

33%

Stats by Sofascore

The Black Cats’ total is more in keeping with teams such as West Ham United and Burnley near the foot of the division, with both Isidor and Brobbey largely failing to be clinical so far this campaign as Sunderland’s main attacking sparks, as outlined in the table above.

The former Zenit St Petersburg attacker has now gone eight straight top-flight games without finding the back of the net, while his Dutch counterpart – for all his fight and endeavour against Newcastle – remains stuck on an equally weak two goals, having failed to register a single shot at Aaron Ramsdale’s net during the fierce Tyne-Wear Derby.

Dovbyk, on the other hand, has even been likened to Haaland for his explosive goalscoring exploits all across Europe, with a lethal 24 strikes coming his way on the books of Girona from just 39 games, on top of also helping himself to ten assists.

Subscribe for transfer insight on Sunderland and PL Get the newsletter for focused transfer coverage: analysis of Sunderland’s striker options, the potential Dovbyk move, statistical comparisons and how signings reshape Premier League squads — clear context and tactical insight around transfers. Subscribe Subscribe for transfer insight on Sunderland and PL Get the newsletter for focused transfer coverage: analysis of Sunderland’s striker options, the potential Dovbyk move, statistical comparisons and how signings reshape Premier League squads — clear context and tactical insight around transfers.

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Adding this level of firepower to Sunderland’s attack could take the Black Cats to the next level, with Girona finishing in a dizzy third position in the La Liga rankings during the 2023/24 season, just two campaigns on from their own promotion, due to the 28-year-old’s “elite” finishing ability, as he was once hailed by European football expert Zach Lowy.

The La Liga golden boot winner has since chipped in with a weighty 19 goals in the Italian capital, with both Isidor and Brobbey surely unsure of their immediate Sunderland futures, if the Ukrainian powerhouse were to step foot onto English soil.

Even when he hasn’t been at his best this season, Dovbyk has still managed to collect three goal contributions from just three league starts, with Sunderland becoming a far more entertaining and brash prospect in the second half of the season, if the £19m target were to move to Wearside.

Related Sunderland "warrior" looks like a new Dan Ballard in the making

Regis Le Bris has a new Daniel Ballard on his hands at Sunderland in this determined warrior.

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As the Irani Trophy encounter between Mumbai and Rest of India resumed on the fourth morning at the Wankhede Stadium, the only point of interest was whether Murali Kartik would scalp all ten, a feat achieved by only four other Indians in first class cricket: Premangshu Chatterjee, Subhash Gupte, Pradeep Sunderam and Anil Kumble. The umpire from whose end Kartik bowled unchanged was – you guessed it – AV Jayaprakash, who had given the marching orders to Kumble’s ten victims just about 20 months ago.The 24-year-old left armer almost got there, picking up the first nine wickets, and even misdirecting a shy at the stumps that would have thrown out Nilesh Kulkarni when Mumbai were eight down. Speaking to the press after the game was over, Kartik said that was the moment when he felt God wanted him to take all ten. Unfortunately Sharandeep Singh was not kept posted of the almighty’s wishes and invited Santosh Saxena to drive a fullish length delivery into substitute Reetinder Sodhi at extra cover.Sharandeep bent his head in embarrassment like a schoolboy caught out by his headmaster after a disreputable act but that took little away from Kartik’s bravura performance. His unchanged spell of 24-6-70-9 – all victims caught – was a record for the Irani Trophy, beating Ravi Shastri’s 9-101 almost twenty seasons ago. Mumbai were bowled out for 184, leaving Rest with a target of 56 runs which openers Sadagopan Ramesh (24) and Shiv Sunder Das (34) knocked off in 35 minutes inside eight overs.Resuming from the Tata end this morning, Kartik had Paras Mhambrey caught at silly point by Mohd. Kaif in his first over without any addition to the overnight score of 145. And in his next over Ramesh Powar was brilliantly caught at forward short leg by Shiv Sunder Das for scalp number seven. Having watched the carnage from the other end, Amol Majumdar seemed to have realised that by playing defensively to Kartik, it was only a matter of time before one of the close catchers pounced. Indeed after the two openers were caught at midon and midoff as they charged Kartik, the next five victims were all snapped up around the bat.Skipper VVS Laxman had opened with Dodda Ganesh from the pavilion end and in the ninth over of the day, he introduced off spinner Sharandeep Singh who had been underbowled in the second innings after matching Kartik wicket for wicket in the first. But it was Kartik who broke through yet again. Majumdar’s intention to go after the bowler was laudable as he jumped out of the crease but the execution was faulty, the ball brushing past him en route to Laxman at first slip.The batsman stood transfixed at the crease for almost a full minute, staring in disbelief at Jayaprakash as though willing him to reverse his verdict. Majumdar’s two hour occupation of the crease had netted 37 from 92 balls with five fours as Mumbai slumped to 175/8. Rajesh Pawar stroked Sharandeep for two boundaries to midwicket but when he sought to give Kartik the same treatment, it proved fatal. The intended sweep was top edged for Jacob Martin to take a splendid catch running several metres backwards from his position at leg slip. It was Kartik’s ninth successive wicket, leaving him with two deliveries in the over to get at Nilesh Kulkarni but he passed up the opportunity and Sharandeep made no mistake.Kartik said the wicket had been seaming early on and providing good carry but got slower and slower as the match progressed. Asked whether his ejection from the National Cricket Academy had raised doubts in his mind about whether he would gain selection for the Irani Trophy, Kartik replied with an emphatic negative. He said he had to leave because of a cracked wrist bone which had not been diagnosed properly and it was the media which had played it up by clubbing him with two others who had been forced out because of indiscipline. The return to peak fitness of this Superintending Officer employed with the Indian Railways should lend a new and formidable dimension to a hitherto nondescript Indian attack in the ensuing season.

An investigation is to take place into the World T20 Qualifier match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong played in Dublin on Tuesday.ESPNcricinfo understands that the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) noticed unusual betting patterns on the game and is to speak to leading betting firms, including Betfair, in an attempt to gain a greater understanding of what occurred.News of the investigation may take some of the gloss off Hong Kong’s five-wicket victory in the first qualifying playoff, which booked them a place at the 2016 World T20 in India.The match has not eliminated Afghanistan, though. They play Papua New Guinea on Thursday in the third qualifying playoff.

All four matches of the first round of the National Cricket League (NCL) ended in draws after rain hampered play across the country. The third days of every game were washed out, but there was some play possible on the fourth in Fatullah and Khulna.File photo: Mosaddek Hossain struck 133 for Barisal Divison, but they had to settle for a draw against Rajshahi Division•ICC

Tier 1

At the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna Division made home advantage count. Their 153-run first-innings lead over Dhaka Division puts them on top of the NCL points table.Batting first, Dhaka were bowled out for 187 with only 16-year old Saif Hassan offering any resistance. He batted over three hours for his 68, which included 10 fours, but found little support from the other end. Left-arm pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman and experienced left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak took four wickets each.Shakib Al Hasan, playing his first domestic first-class match in nearly three years, had a tough day. He took 1 for 49 and was dismissed for 13, batting at No. 3. However, Khulna were stabilized by fifties from Mohammad Mithun and Nurul Hasan. That foundation set up a formidable first-innings total of 340. Left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain took 7 for 119, the fourth time he has taken a haul this big in a first-class innings.The other Tier-1 match in Bogra lost two of four days to rain forcing Rangpur Division and Dhaka Metropolis to settle for a draw.Batting first, Dhaka Metropolis were bowled out for 238. Marshall Ayub, Shamsur Rahman and Elias Sunny made half-centuries while offspinner Mahmudul Hasan took his sixth five-for in first-class cricket.Rangpur had run into early trouble as well, slipping to 45 for 3, but Dhiman Ghosh’s unbeaten 85 helped them recover well enough to claim a slim first-innings lead and eight points as a result. He added an unbroken 133 for the sixth wicket with Ariful Haque (48 off 99) to put Rangpur ahead by 28 runs at the end of the second day. That was where they stayed with the final two days washed out.

Tier 2

In Fatullah, Chittagong Division could only bat for 18 minutes on the fourth and final day after Sylhet Division declared on 352 for 8.Rajin Saleh, Ruman Ahmed and Rahatul Ferdous made 74, 80 and 56 not out respectively. Left-arm spinner Nabil Samad switched from Sylhet to Chittagong this season and took it to his old team, claiming 3 for 78 in 37 oversAfter sitting out most of the second and third days, Chittagong’s openers could bat for just four overs, in which Tamim Iqbal and Yasir Ali added 36 runs.In the other Tier-2 match, hosts Rajshahi Division may have been the only team benefited by rain as they escaped with a draw against Barisal Division.Batting first, Barisal were led by Mosaddek Hossain’s 122 and fifties from Shahriar Nafees and Sohag Gazi to post 302 runs in 78.2 overs.Rajshahi’s left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam took 6 for 123. But his team-mates produced an appalling display with the bat to be bowled out for 93. Fast bowler proved their undoing as Tawhidul Islam took 6 for 31 and Golam Kabir contributed three wickets.The rapid pace of the match continued as Rajshahi then bowled Barisal out for 160 with Sunzamul completing his second 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Set 370 to win, Rajshahi were 25 for 0 when rain arrived.

Following the instructions of the Supreme Court of India, the dispute between the BCCI and N Srinivasan over the latter attending BCCI meetings has come to an end. While the BCCI’s plea seeking clarification over Srinivasan’s attendance at a working committee meeting in August has been disposed off, Srinivasan has withdrawn the perjury case against board secretary Anurag Thakur. The court, however, has asked the BCCI to stick to its stand of not allowing Srinivasan to attend the meetings due to his alleged conflict of interest.The BCCI counsel KK Vengugopal stated that despite the transfer of shares of Chennai Super Kings from its original owners India Cements Ltd to Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd, Srinivasan is still involved in conflict of interest. The India Cements Ltd, while transferring the controversial IPL team ownership to a trust [Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd], had valued the team at Rs 5 lakh. The BCCI termed the whole process as a “sham” in the court.Justice TS Thakur, who was instrumental in appointing the Lodha commission to set punishments for Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals and suggest administrative reforms for the BCCI, then asked the board to continue with its stand and not seek a court directive before every meeting.On August 28, the BCCI hierarchy was unsure of the legal issues arising from Srinivasan’s attendance at the meeting, and the then president Jagmohan Dalmiya adjourned the meeting sine die and sought the apex court’s opinion.As a result, in a plea filed by secretary Anurag Thakur, the BCCI accused Srinivasan of barging into the meeting enclosure and insisting on attending the meeting.However, with Thakur’s plea mistaking Srinivasan for his namesake, a chartered accountant, as a trustee of Chennai Super Kings’ new owners, Srinivasan slapped a perjury case on the BCCI secretary. Both parties withdrew their respective cases on Monday.The developments on Monday came after newly-appointed BCCI president Shashank Manohar stressed that the BCCI will not be vindictive towards any of its 30 member associations, including Srinivasan’s Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.

ScorecardZimbabwe A rattled the Ireland middle order to give themselves a good chance of taking a first-innings lead, despite Stuart Poynter making his maiden first-class hundred, on the second day in Harare.Poynter’s 125 took only 166 balls and included 18 fours. He was the only Ireland batsman to convert his start; the rest of the top five got past 20 but did not reach a half-century. Poynter added 101 for the second wicket with Andy Balbirnie and 80 for the third with Niall O’Brien, but Ireland then slipped from 212 for 2 to 222 for 5.Gary Wilson, whose 47 was the next best score for Ireland, was out in the final over of the day, after a 70-run stand with Kevin O’Brien. The visitors trailed by 100 at stumps with four wickets in hand. Seamer Brian Vitori claimed two wickets for the home side.Zimbabwe A had begun the day on 352 for 6 and their lower order was mopped up by Craig Young and John Mooney, who finished with four wickets each. Malcolm Waller was the last wicket to fall, for 138, with Niall O’Brien claiming his fourth catch of the innings. The hosts had added 40 to their overnight score to finish with 392.

Usman Khawaja wondered if this moment would ever arrive. When he made his Test debut 1768 days ago, Ricky Ponting was still officially captain (though he did not play that match), Tim Nielsen was coach and Julia Gillard was prime minister. Michael Clarke came and went, then Steven Smith took over. Mickey Arthur came and went, now it’s Darren Lehmann. The prime ministers since then are too numerous to list.Through it all Khawaja kept dreaming, and hoping, and finally his first Test century arrived, late in the afternoon on the first day of the 2015-16 home summer, on his adopted home ground. The release of emotion was obvious in his celebration, a running leap and wave of his bat, before his batting partner and captain, Smith, gave him a hug.”It was just elation, the biggest amount of emotional relief,” Khawaja said. “I’ve wanted to get a Test hundred for Australia my whole life. There were times over the last three or four years I thought it might not happen. When it did happen the build-up of a lot of emotions came out because it’s what I always dreamt about.”The first one is always the hardest, I’ve said, so it’s massive for me. I scored my first first-class century here and now my first Test century. I’m just really excited about the day we’ve had as a team, that’s as good a day as you get. We’ve got a lot of hard work coming up but I’m very excited at the moment. And I like to live in the now, so I’m just enjoying this at the moment.”Khawaja’s hundred came with a swivelled pull for four, and it came from 123 deliveries, an innings in which he showed the kind of positive intent that had sometimes been lacking in his earlier stints as a Test batsman. He lifted the spinner Mark Craig for two classy sixes and never looked like getting bogged down, which had been a problem earlier in his career.”The hard work was done at the top by Davey and Burnsy, they batted beautifully,” Khawaja said of the 161-run opening stand between David Warner and Joe Burns. “It allows us at No. 3 and No. 4 to come out and play a few more shots because the ball is a bit older and the bowlers are a bit tired… It’s a real nice wicket out there and it was easy to play positive for that reason.”I just kept looking to score runs. It makes it easier when you have Davey at the other end, it takes a bit of pressure off you when he’s going, you don’t feel like you have to score very fast. I kept looking for runs, as you do when you’re playing well. Fortunately I got a few in my area and I got off to a flyer, which doesn’t always happen, and kept the momentum going.”There was a moment of concern for Khawaja when he collided with a New Zealand fieldsman while completing a run, and immediately hobbled around in discomfort. Khawaja had surgery on his left knee after suffering a serious injury last summer, but he was able to bat on and complete his hundred without any further problems.”I got a little jar on my left knee, the one I had surgery on,” he said. “It hurt like crap. I was making sure I was all right. It was sore for 10 overs but by the end of it, it was pretty good.”

Pakistan Vs NepalThe match commenced at the United Bank Ground Karachi with Nepal taking a disastrous start losing 4 wickets with only 14 runs on the board. The Pakistan bowling being too good for them to face, the whole team was out for 67 runs in 28.5 overs.Amit Shrestha was the only batsman who showed the courage to hold the crease and score some runs. He faced 58 balls to score a face saving 23 including 2 fours, before being trapped LBW by Zulifqar Ali. With 19 runs Mr. EXTRAS was the 2nd highest. No other batsman reached the double figures. Najaf Shah and Munir Ansari shared 3 wickets each.Pakistan gave a big shock to Nepal by capturing the target in 15 overs without losing a wicket. The openers Salman But (27) and Khalid Latif (32) made up the target with the help of 10 extras. Having piled up 69 without loss, Pakistan registered a splendid win over Nepal by 10 wickets.

Graham Rose – 105* Photo © Stu Forster / AllSport

Graham Rose turned the clock back nine years to frustrate Yorkshire on the second day of the County Championship match at Taunton.It was in the corresponding fixture at the same venue in 1991 that the former Middlesex player reached his maiden first class century, smashing 7 sixes and 7 fours in an unbeaten 105, off just 114 balls.Now aged 36, Rose’s innings tend to be a touch more sedate these days. But his heavy blade still packs plenty of power as the tenth hundred of his career amply demonstrated.At 115-5 on another blustery day, Somerset looked unlikely to collect even one batting bonus points when their evergreen all-rounder strode to the crease.By the time Rose was last man out for 124, made off 227 balls, with 13 fours, the home side had amassed 359 and had four points in the bag.It was all very frustrating for title-chasing Yorkshire, who began the day well. Peter Bowler was taken down the leg side by wicketkeeper Simon Guy off Matthew Hoggard and Keith Parsons also fell when looking set.Having reached 32, Parsons clearly allowed his concentration to be affected by some heavy drizzle. Umpires Graham Burgess and Nigel Cowley decided it was not enough to interrupt play and the batsman was less than impressed when trapped lbw by Gavin Hamilton.Rob Turner then contributed 36 to a sixth-wicket stand of 68 with Rose before attempting to drive a wide half-volley from Gary Fellows and edging to Guy.When Ian Blackwell was caught trying to evade one of many short-pitched deliveries from the Yorkshire seamers Somerset were 212-7 and still in some peril.But out marched teenager Peter Trego to play an innings of great maturity, which brought his highest first class score of 62 and enabled Rose to maintain a steady tempo towards his ton.Yorkshire were guilty of trying to bounce the pair out at times. Yet Rose looked increasingly assured against the short ball, while Trego was never afraid to cut with relish at anything wide.The second new ball was taken at 255-7, but failed to bring a breakthrough. It was 21 overs later when left-arm spinner Ian Fisher finally penetrated Trego’s defence after the young seam bowler had hit 10 fours in his maiden half-century.Rose gave just one chance on 29 when Yorkshire skipper David Byas dived full length to his right at slip, failing to cling onto a flying edge off Hoggard.That apart, it was an increasingly commanding display in which Rose pulled with confidence and produced some superb straight drives on the few occasions when the ball was pitched up.The stand of 132 with Trego was a perfect blend of youth and experience, with Rose sometimes coming down the pitch for a steadying word with his highly-promising partner.Perhaps Somerset fans were watching Rose’s successor. On this evidence, EnglandUnder-19 seamer Trego has what it takes to develop all-rounder status.After starting the match in such menacing mood, both Hoggard and Chris Silverwood returned disappointing figures. It was Fisher (3-66) and Hamilton (3-73) who picked up the bulk of the wickets.At least Yorkshire openers Simon Widdup and Vic Craven survived a tricky four-over spell before the close. But at 5-0 it is the visitors who have work to do if they are to avoid defeat.

At the end of a day of swift developments, Karnataka are poised forvictory against Goa in their South Zone Ranji Trophy league match atMargao. At stumps on the third day, having made 25 without loss,Karnataka just need another 94 runs for a win.At 158 for four in reply to Goa’s first innings score of 303,Karnataka’s position was pretty shaky when play resumed. BarringtonRowland was out for 80 this morning and Karnataka was down in thedumps at 175 for six. But B Akhil (79) and D Ganesh (36) revived theirhopes with a seventh wicket partnership of 99 runs from 29 overs.Akhil faced 145 balls and hit six of them to the ropes. The tailcontributed usefully and Karnataka were able to take a small butunexpected lead of 18 runs.Having obtained the psychological edge, Karnataka now pressed hard andmedium pacers Dodda Ganesh (4 for 52) and Mansur Ali Khan (4 for 24)quickly brought about the end of the Goa second innings. Goa were sixdown for 34 but Tanveer Jabbar (40) and wicketkeeper A Bhagwat (51)added 78 runs for the seventh wicket off 16 overs. But once this standwas broken there was precious little batting and Goa folded up for136. Requiring 119 runs for victory, Karnataka openers J Arun Kumarand Mithun Beerala came through unbeaten at stumps.