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Days on from a sixth loss in eight matches, Celtic head coach Wilfried Nancy has officially been sacked by the club after less than two months in the dugout.

A 3-1 loss against their Glasgow rivals at Parkhead on Saturday was his fourth defeat in six Scottish Premiership games, and that was enough for the club to decide to move on from him.

From the outside looking in, some may wonder if the former Columbus Crew manager was given enough time to implement his ideas after joining midway through the season.

Why Celtic were right to sack Nancy

After the loss to Rangers, Chris Sutton said: “It’s not working. I think he’ll be fortunate to survive this. People say, ‘well, it’s not Wilfried Nancy’s fault’, and maybe it isn’t, but the club have to be really decisive.”

He added: They can’t hang around in terms of getting players in, but if they want to stick with Wilfried Nancy, and I’m not so sure that they should, because there’s probably a guy out there where they’d stand a better chance of winning the Premiership with.”

Nancy is the only Celtic manager in the club’s history to lose their first four matches in charge of the club, and the first to lose six of their first eight competitive games in the dugout.

It is a historically bad start for a head coach at a club that is built on short-term success. The Hoops should not need to spend months and months on a project because they should be winning trophies every season.

The comments of Luke McCowan in the interview above were astonishing. Perhaps the raw emotion after such a loss came across too much, but he stated that the manager needed to react to the changes that Danny Rohl made at the break, and his reaction to a question about backing Nancy is damning.

With all of this in mind, the Premiership champions were right to part ways with him. Now, they must find an upgrade on the Frenchman, and it should not be Martin O’Neill.

EFL manager could be a big Nancy upgrade for Celtic

Despite seven wins in eight games as the interim manager, the Hoops should still be looking for the manager who can lead them in the future, as well as in the here and now.

That is why they should look past O’Neill as a possible replacement for Nancy, because an interim until the end of the season only delays the inevitable.

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Instead, they should revisit the reported interest that they had in Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna prior to Nancy’s arrival, as he was reportedly one of their targets to replace Brendan Rodgers.

The Northern Irish boss, who was described as “incredible” by Tractor Boys winger Wes Burns, would have to be tempted to part ways with the English side in the midst of a promotion battle, though, which is one possible obstacle in the way of hiring him.

If the Hoops could convince McKenna to make the move to Parkhead, it would be a “huge coup”, as journalist Pete O’Rourke said at the time of the initial link, because of his work with Ipswich.

The former Manchester United youth coach has taken the Tractor Boys from being a mid-table League One team to competing for a return to the Premier League, after being relegated from the top-flight last term.

Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich career

Season (games managed)

League position

25/26 Championship (25)

2nd

24/25 Premier League (38)

19th

23/24 Championship (46)

2nd

22/23 League One (46)

2nd

21/22 League One (23)

11th

Stats via Transfermarkt

To go from an 11th-place League One finish, when he joined midway through the season, to earning back-to-back promotions shows that he can galavnise a club and take them to the next level, and the level after that.

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He may not have a title under his belt, which Celtic supporters may question, but he has achieved his success with a team that is not expected to be competing for titles, yet he has still had them challenging at the very top, which speaks to his tactical and motivational skills.

Bringing in a manager who has proven that he can lift a team and achieve unexpected success could be exactly what Celtic need to save their season after a dreadful run of results that has left the side in a difficult spot.

On top of his success with Ipswich, the Northern Irish boss also favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, per Transfermarkt, which means that he would play a formation more suited to what Celtic are used to, having played 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 under Rodgers, O’Neill, and Ange Postecoglou, instead of the 3-4-2-1 system that did yield success.

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Therefore, McKenna could come in as an upgrade on Nancy, who has endured a disastrous spell in the dugout so far, if the club can get him to ditch Ipswich in the middle of a promotion chase.

Newcastle United are now set to launch an enquiry to sign a talented Ligue 1 defender this month, according to recent reports.

Howe admits "season-defining" month for Newcastle

It’s a crucial time for Newcastle. Not only must they get results on the pitch, but they must also get things right in the transfer market. They’ve got unfinished business after hosting a late show in the summer and new sporting director Ross Wilson has the chance to get off to the perfect start this month.

Even Eddie Howe couldn’t escape how important this month is, admitting that it will be “season-defining” for Newcastle before having his say on potential incomings.

He told reporters: “Marquee signing, I don’t know quite what that means – I suppose you’re talking big financial outlay?

“I don’t think that’s the desire in this month for various reasons, because I don’t think it’s a great month necessarily to make that kind of signing.

“Any signing that we do make in this window will restrict our ability to do business in the summer, so I think we’ve got to be really careful that we make the right decisions for the here and now and for the future.

“We’re still in that position where PSR will influence every decision that we make, so that’s where we have to be really smart. I don’t think that’s necessarily the wish in this month, but I think our injury situation to a degree will impact what we do and don’t do.”

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If smart is the way to go, then the Magpies should expect to welcome reinforcements who are available at the right price and in a position to make an instant impact such as Bazoumana Toure or perhaps even Dayann Methalie.

According to Craig Hope reporting on Friday lunchtime, Newcastle are set to enquire about signing Methalie from Toulouse in an attempt to strengthen their defensive depth.

Newcastle set to launch Methalie enquiry

Still just 19 years old, Methalie is far from the finished product but could at least provide some competition for Lewis Hall by arriving this month.

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As Newcastle’s injury issues continue, the teenager may not be short on opportunities at St James’ Park, either, and that should be the selling point for a player yet to reach his full potential.

League stats 25/26

Methalie

Hall

Minutes

1,160

792

Interceptions

11

13

Tackles Won

19

17

Ball Recoveries

56

44

One look at the numbers and it becomes easy to see why Newcastle are interested in Methalie. The Frenchman was dubbed “one of the best left-backs in Ligue 1” and described as “powerful” by Get French Football News journalist Alfred Frank last month. Now, he could be on his way to Tyneside.

It’s currently unclear how much Toulouse will demand to sell their left-back, but it’s a deal that Newcastle should be all over if the right price emerges this month. Howe needs depth across his backline and Methalie would offer exactly that.

While Newcastle United do boast a fine history of producing exceptionally talented players, with the likes of Peter Beardsley and Paul Gascoigne having come through the youth setup at St. James’ Park, it would not be an unfair statement to make that the Magpies’ production line has tailed off somewhat in recent years.

Indeed, while the likes of Sean Longstaff, Matty Longstaff and Freddie Woodman are players who would appear to have a bright future in the game, not since Andy Carroll made his first-team debut back in 2006 has there been a nationwide level of excitement regarding a product of the Magpies’ academy.

However, that could be about to change, as 19-year-old attacking midfielder Joe White has been generating a great deal of attention.

Newcastle’s new Waddle?

Indeed, after handing the teenager a second-half appearance in a 2-0 win over Burton Albion back in August 2021, Steve Bruce appeared to be extremely excited about the potential of White, stating of the forward-thinking midfielder:

“He caught the eye, didn’t he? We brought him up about 18 months ago before [the pandemic] and he quietly impressed us. And, all of a sudden, they grow all of a sudden, find a yard of pace and look bigger and stronger. And he’s certainly done that. Over the last couple of games, in particular, I’ve been very, very pleased with what I’ve seen.”

However, it not only the 61-year-old impressed with the talent of the youngster, as Eddie Howe opted to hand White a new deal in January of this year, amid reported interest from Chelsea, Leeds United, Celtic and Rangers, with the 44-year-old going on to say of the midfielder:

“With Joe White, I’ve been very impressed. I saw him playing for the development squad recently, and he performed really well. He’s a talented player.”

Following the signing of his new contract, the 19-year-old was sent on loan to further his development at League Two side Hartlepool United in the January transfer window, where the teenager has already made his mark on Graeme Lee’s side, registering two assists over his seven league outings thus far.

This creativity in the final third is something that has been apparent throughout White’s progression in the youth ranks in the North East, with the attacking midfielder having scored eight goals and provided nine assists over his 33 appearances for the U18s, as well as bagging two goals and four assists over 30 outings for the U21s.

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And, while it is still extremely early days in White’s career, should he continue this level of creativity in senior football, he could very well go on to become Newcastle’s new Chris Waddle – the attacking midfielder who scored 52 goals over his five-year spell with the Magpies at the start of his own career.

Indeed, Newcastle supporters should be very excited about the 19-year-old who Howe dubbed a “very good technical player” with a “bright future” – as he could quite easily become the next big thing to come out of the North East.

In other news: £20m down the drain: “Bewildering” £40k-p/w flop has been rinsing NUFC for 254 weeks

Karachi Blues, who are battling for survival in the Grade-I, let some of the initiative slipped away on the first day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy match against Sargodha at the UBL Sports Complex here on Monday.Sargodha recovered to reach 180 in their first innings after being reduced to 67 for seven an hour into the afternoon session.Karachi Blues, in reply, survived two overs to close on two without loss. But Suleman Huda might have perished LBW to pacer Umair Hasan had umpire Sajjad Asghar not declared a no ball.After electing to bat first on a slow track, Sargodha lost the top five batsmen for only 26 runs on the board. Stand-in skipper Naved Latif, who amassed 394 against Gujranwala barely eight weeks ago, fell to left-arm paceman Imranullah for a first-ball duck. Imranullah bowled a fine opening spell to claim three wickets which left Sargodha taking lunch at 46 for five.When wicket-keeper Shahid Mahmood was bowled by left-arm spinner Salman Fazal for 14, Sargodha slumped to 67 for seven. However, dogged batting, engineered by left-handed Ashraf Bashir, by the lower order brought respectability to the score.Ashraf and Faisal Khan Afridi, a burly right-hander, shared an eighth wicket stand of 51 in 40 minutes. Afridi used the long handle effectively to make 31 off 32 balls with five fours. He also lifted Salman Fazal over long-off to the top railing of the stand for massive six.Ashraf finally departed when he holed out to Karachi Blues captain Farhan Adil at cover off part-time off-spinner Nomanullah after making 39 of 130 deliveries in two hours and 10 minutes. He put on 38 for the ninth wicket with Tariq Munir.Tariq slammed six boundaries on his way to a top-score of 44 in 87 minutes off 75 balls before he was caught behind by Rashid Latif shortly after the second new ball was taken by Mohammad Javed.Imranullah and Salman Fazal claimed three wickets apiece for 26 and 74 runs respectively while Javed chipped in with two for 31.

Lalchand Rajput, the manager of the Indian team, has been appointed assistant coach for the tour of Australia which begins in December.”Gary Kirsten will confirm [his willingness to take up the job of coach] in seven days,” Rajeev Shukla, the Indian board vice-president, said. “Kirsten, if he takes up the job, will be with the team in parts during the Australia tour and hence Rajput will be with the team.”India have been without a coach since Greg Chappell stepped down in April after the World Cup. For the tours that followed, cricket managers were appointed to take charge of the side. Ravi Shastri managed the team in Bangladesh in May and Chandu Borde was in charge in England. Rajput took over from Borde for India’s victorious ICC World Twenty20 campaign and continued to manage the side for the recent home series against Australia and Pakistan.He will now travel with the team to Australia for four Tests and a triangular one-day series.

West Indies will have a lot to worry about if Sarwan and Chanderpaul are not fully fit before the World Cup © Getty Images

West Indies’ third most-capped player, and the second in line to the captaincy, has expressed one opinion on the team’s final preparations for the World Cup, now only two months away. Last week, the selectors gave another.Following December’s one-day series in Pakistan, for which he was entrusted with the vice-captaincy, Chris Gayle wrote that it was “about time” the West Indies had “a steady World Cup squad”. “There is no time to experiment now,” was his logical conclusion.That would have meant choosing the World Cup 14, all to the injured Ramnaresh Sarwan, for the ODI series in India, starting next weekend.The four matches are the last prior to the World Cup that gets underway with the West Indies meeting Pakistan at Sabina Park on March 13. The one-day games present a timely opportunity for the team to sharpen their edge in some tough contests and for the coach Bennett King and captain Brian Lara to determine the best combinations.Above all, to have decided on the World Cup lineup at this early stage would have given peace of mind to those unsure of their places.When the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) finally got around to officially naming the team on January 12, several days after it was disclosed on various media outlets, convenor of selectors Gordon Greenidge outlined a somewhat different scenario.”This is our last chance to look at a few players and they have been included because you do know what might happen in the next few weeks,” he explained. “We have a few injuries, and we want to have a look at a few players at international level to see what they have to offer.”The “few players” Greenidge and his colleagues want to have a final look at are Devon Smith, Darren Sammy and Reyad Emrit who replace Daren Ganga, Dwayne Smith and Corey Collymore from the Pakistan series.Dwayne Bravo (on compassionate grounds) and Sarwan (injury) both missed the Pakistan ODIs. But while Bravo is back Sarwan has still not recovered from his fractured left foot, crushed by Umar Gul’s yorker in the final Test in Pakistan on December 1.Their absence was a severe setback in Pakistan and Sarwan’s long recovery remains a genuine cause for concern. For all his problems last year, culminating in his dropping from the Test team in Pakistan, he remains an essential component in a potentially strong, but inherently inconsistent batting team. His average of 44 in 115 ODIs compares with the best of the day.

Devon Smith, in as a cover for injured Ramnaresh Sarwan for the one-dayers against India, last played an ODI in July 2004 © Getty Images

Without him in Pakistan, West Indies turned to Lendl Simmons, a talented player but still an apprentice, and have now brought back Devon Smith as cover, two and a half years after he was seen as unsuited to the abbreviated game and dropped.Such juggling accentuates Sarwan’s significance. As it is, he has not had an innings since December 1 and, since he misses the Indian series, he will be short of match practice when the World Cup comes around.There are also injury doubts over Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Simmons, neither of whom has yet appeared in the current domestic season although both are included in the squad for India. Chanderpaul has found a new lease of life since his reinstatement as Gayle’s partner in an opening pairing that is the most prolific on ODI record. His value is enhanced at the top of the order and his fitness, to be assessed before he is passed for India, is as essential as Sarwan’s.Dwayne Smith has been left out of the team for India so that Greenidge’s panel can assess Sammy and Emrit, both useful allrounders, at a level higher than the ‘A’ team to which they have been confined.They appear to be contesting one place in the final 14, mainly as medium-pace bowlers who can score handy lower-order runs.Perhaps Dwayne Smith’s exclusion is down to the selectors’ frustration over his failure to produce more with the bat but it is inconceivable that he won’t be the World Cup team.For all his inconsistency, he remains capable of the kind of match-winning innings Collis King, a similarly explosive hitter, produced in the 1979 World Cup final. He bowls effective medium-pace and, above all, is a fielder on par with any in the contemporary game.The value of fielding, more especially in the limited-overs game, cannot be overstated. Viv Richards’ run outs of the Chappell brothers and Alan Turner were as crucial in the victory in the inaugural World Cup in 1975 as Clive Lloyd’s violent hundred.Lara’s three close-in catches and a run out and Bravo’s sharp run out of Andrew Strauss were mainly responsible for restricting England’s score in the victorious ICC Champions Trophy final in 2004.Roger Harper and Jonty Rhodes commanded places in their teams as much on the strength of their fielding as on their other, somewhat lesser virtues. Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Symonds have offset lean patches with the bat by their value in the field.If the top four in the batting – Gayle, Chanderpaul, Sarwan and Lara – are consistently at their best and build challenging totals and if the fielders support their bowlers and energise the team into limiting, or defending, totals then West Indies has a chance of winning the World Cup. Every one must play his part, one of the many aspects of their cricket that sets Australia apart.

West Indies will need more athletic fielders like Dwayne Bravo to have a successful World Cup campaign © Getty Images

The West Indies carry one or two slow coaches with weak arms but Smith and Bravo are two of the sharpest around in patrolling opposite side of the semi-circles during the early and mid-overs and then protecting the boundaries with their speed and power-throwing in the hectic closing stages.If Smith has been left at home for no other reason than for the selectors “to have a look at a few players at international level to see what they have to offer”, longer term inferences can be made for some who did not make the cut in the initial World Cup squad of 30.Merv Dillon can certainly take it that his stated ambition to return to international cricket is over, as can Reon King. So, as far as the one-day version is concerned, can Pedro Collins and Tino Best. Apart from Best, they are all cricketers on the wrong side of 30 who have had their moments and are in the twilight of their careers.Richard Kelly is at the start of his career and has been left to reflect, as so many others before him, what a fickle game it is. A regular in the ‘A’ team in four successive series as an energetic allrounder and seen as a strong contender for promotion as recently as a few months ago, he suddenly finds himself excluded from the top 30.He is simply the latest West Indian to follow such an undulating path recently. Remember Donovan Pagon, Dave Bernard, Xavier Marshall? It is better he remember a few Australians who also disappeared from the selectors’ radar after early recognition. Their names are Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Damien Martyn.

Wasim Bari played a straight bat when asked about Imran Farhat’s chances of a recall © Getty Images

An impressive hundred for Pakistan A against India by Imran Farhat has left Pakistan’s selectors with a tough conundrum as they prepare to select their squad for the series against India on Monday. Farhat was dropped after the Melbourne Test against Australia just over a year ago and despite a shortage of opening options – Pakistan picked only one specialist opener in the series against England – he has faded away from national reckoning since.Pakistan recalled Yasir Hameed, another opener dropped in recent time, for their training camp but he has since fallen ill with typhoid and is unlikely to participate in the first Test. With Shoaib Malik failing to entirely convince as an opener in three Tests against England, Farhat’s reminder to the selectors of his presence could not have been timed any better. Of Farhat’s two Test centuries, one came against India in Lahore two years ago. On the back of an impressive year, that restrained and matchwinning hundred seemingly sealed his place in the side. But a loss of form, culminating in a poor series against Australia left him on the sidelines, since when he has been left to impress at domestic level. Less than a month ago, against a PIA attack including Umar Gul, Fazl-e-Akbar and Najaf Shah, Farhat compiled a mammoth 242 and is averaging just over 80 after four matches in the Patrons Trophy.Wasim Bari, chief selector, admitted his panel had been impressed by the innings but refused to divulge whether he would be called up in light of Hameed’s likely absence. “We will discuss it when making the selection,” Bari told Cricinfo. “We all watched him bat today and it was a good innings but I don’t really want to say anymore on his chances right now. All players in this match are under consideration.”Bari did point out, revealingly perhaps, that captain, coach and selectors are reluctant to tinker too much with a winning team. It suggests, as Inzamam-ul-Haq has also hinted, that Malik may be persevered with as opener for a little longer. “We’re keen on sticking with a winning combination and Malik does also bring balance to our team with his bowling. But it will depend also on what sort of balance the captain wants in his team.”Pakistan has struggled to find a settled opening pair for some time now; some might argue since the left-handed days of Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar. In their last thirteen Tests alone Pakistan have tried ten different opening combinations and the emergence of Salman Butt – and that too only recently – has been their only success.Lower down, at number six, lies a more pleasant problem. Primarily, the dilemma is one of intent. In Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi and Asim Kamal Pakistan have three options and endless possibilities. Afridi and Razzaq not only provide robustness to the bowling, their batting allows Pakistan opportunities to attack. Bari said, “The form Afridi and Razzaq have been in means it is very difficult to drop them from the line-up,” which suggests that Kamal’s stodginess in the lower-order may not warrant a starting place. With eight fifties in twelve Tests in his career thus far, Kamal’s plight highlights the current depth in Pakistan’s squad.Earlier in the day, while speaking to the press, Bari said Shoaib Akhtar was bowling as well as he had ever seen him bowl. Bari, along with team management didn’t select Shoaib against India and the West Indies last year. “Not just my view but that of the committee as well that he wasn’t fit when the tour of India was on. It is important for every cricketer to be fit. You can see he is fit, and I haven’t seen him bowl as well as he did against England. He was a complete team man and played brilliantly. He played in all the Tests and took crucial, important wickets for the team. He is now a total team man.”Bari also said he was expecting a keen contest between India and Pakistan. “They are two very good teams. Both are very balanced. No expert can say who is going to win the series. It depends on who plays better on the day. But both have their srengths. India have a formidable batting and very good seam bowlers. Pakistan has the edge in one of the fastest bowlers in Shoaib. If he bowls as well as he did against England, run-getting will be very difficult.”

It was a tale of two sets of nerves at the post-match press conference: Stuart MacGill’s as he returned to Test cricket after ten months away and Shane Watson’s on debut. MacGill calmed his with the wicket of Younis Khan, after starting with 0 for 43 from six overs, and took four more on the way to 5 for 87. Stumbling through his first delivery, Watson bowled in support of themain men and finished with 0 for 28 from 10 overs:

Stuart MacGill made a superb return to Test cricket, taking five wickets on the first day at Sydney© Getty Images

Stuart MacGill
On the slow start to his comeback
I definitely didn’t start the way I wanted, but I think I can be forgiven for being a little nervous – I haven’t played [Test cricket] in a long time. As calm as I try to be, the first Test back each time seems to get me. I knew once I’d taken a wicket it would change, and fortunately it did.On his performance
Because I’d been bowling well I expected it to happen, and [I knew] I’d show everybody what I’ve got. But I’m happy, I wasn’t sure at the end whether the weather was getting cold or I was getting tingles.On the difference when he started getting wickets
When I was keen I was rushing through my action, and that was where the short balls outside off stump came from. Fortunately, at my age, I knew that and knewthere was nothing to panic about.On the satisfaction of five wickets
It’s important to maintain the same sense of satisfaction no matter what stage of your career. A five-for in a run of 10 or 12 Tests is every bit – sometimes more – important than your first one back. Because there’s the element of nerves you feel like it’s more important.On the need for a strong return
There were thoughts running through my mind that if I didn’t get wickets in this game you guys would all say “That’s it, there’s never going to be twolegspinners playing again in the same match.”On his confidence levelsI’ve been bowling so well this season that it couldn’t go wrong in a day, and it would happen at some stage. It was almost like being on the couch – workingthrough it myself, and it started to come right before tea. To get the first wicket is a very important moment.On bowling with Warne
I’ve said it enough now for somebody to believe me. I really don’t mind who I bowl with at the other end. In a team that is so talented it’s important not to let them down. When Warney came back on I was doing my job and we both looked like getting wickets.On when he could play next
Shane’s [Watson] emergence is going to help me play more Test cricket. It may predominantly be on turning pitches, but there’s also a possibility that teams who are perceived to play wrist-spin poorly may also get the same treatment. There’s a perception out there that New Zealand and England have deficiencies in that area.On the pitch
Batting tomorrow will be good, but as the game goes on there will be less and less bounce. It will be a little bit more difficult to score once the ball has lost its shine. I expect to do a lot of bowling in the second innings.On the Pakistani batting
While there were obviously some shots that weren’t great, it’s a wicket that’s hard to come in and bat on. You feel an obligation to keep the scoreboard going. I’m reluctant to be too critical, because I’ve seen it in other teams that I’ve played against this season.

Shane Watson fell over first ball, but that helped settle his nerves on debut© Getty Images

Shane Watson
On his first-day nerves
It’s been a very nervous day, but after I got my nerves out of the way and fell over for my first ball I felt all right. I was happy with the way the ball come out, and got a bit of confidence in the field.On his bowling
I felt like I fulfilled my role and bowled fairly tight at times. I have to keep the pressure at my end so the other guys can keep plugging away.On bowling in a Test
The great thing is I’ve had a great start with my one-day career and bowling in front of those big crowds. I felt quite comfortable at the start bowlingwith the big crowds around me.On preparing to bat
I’ll probably be a bit more nervous when I bat, mainly because it’s two against 11. I look forward to getting a chance. I don’t know where I’ll bat, probably No. 6 or 7, it doesn’t worry me.On being picked ahead of Michael Kasprowicz
All I can do is play my best. It’s disappointing he’s missed out because he’s been bowling so well. I can’t really worry about those pressures because I’d goinsane.

Leg weary Alton return from their South Wales tour to face Hungerford in a potentially tricky Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 match at the War Memorial Ground.Alton are unbeaten and 18 points clear at the top, but Hungerford will be at full strength with their MCC Young Professional recuits all available.Second placed Ventnor will expect to keep their title hopes alive at relegation-threatened Flamingo, while Rowledge should be too strong for Hook & Newnham Basics.Trojans must beat South Wilts II at Stoneham Lane to keep their flickering promotion hopes alive.Winchester KS host Southsea at River Park, with Paultons expecting to pour more relegation gloom on Portsmouth II, who have lost their last six games.

The chairman of the West Indies selectors, Mike Findlay, has come to the defence of a controversial decision to include Brian Lara in the party to tour Sri Lanka in November.Lara has been hampered by hamstring injuries for almost a year and was unable to participate totally in training last week because there are still fears that he has not yet fully recovered from the injury. He was forced to return early from the recent West Indies tour of Zimbabwe when the problem flared up once again.Findlay said: “Brian still has a future in West Indies cricket and he can still make a significant contribution to West Indies cricket. We are not going to allow history to condemn us that we hadn’t given one of the best batsmen in the Caribbean and best in the world every assistance we could in sorting his problems, whether they are mental or physical. What appears to some people to be leaning on the side of Brian Lara is not that at all.”Lara proved during the recent Red Stripe Bowl competition that, injured or not, he could still score heavily. He came close to establishing himself as the leading batsman in the competition’s history after a prolific season.There is no doubt that the requirement for a fit and in-form Lara became even greater when a back injury forced Shivnarine Chanderpaul to withdraw from the squad earlier this week.