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Journalist Fraser Fletcher has revealed that Everton are ‘likely’ to sign one striker on loan and another on a permanent deal before the transfer window shuts.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements needed

It is no secret that the Goodison Park outfit need reinforcements in the striking department before the window closes.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is currently out injured, while Richarlison has been sold to Tottenham Hotspur and both Ellis Simms and Nathan Broadhead have been allowed to go out on loan to Sunderland and Wigan Athletic respectively.

It has left them very short in that area, and so bringing in a striker or two must be the priority over the next couple of weeks.

The Latest: Two strikers ‘likely’

Taking to Twitter on Friday afternoon, Fletcher has revealed that the Merseyside club are ‘likely’ to sign one striker on loan and another permanently in order to help Calvert-Lewin for when he is injured or misfiring:

“The club is still pursuing forward options fervently. As I said before they want 2 minimum in the door, today I’m told its likely to be one loan and one permanent to help Calvert Lewin with forward duties.”

He added that Southampton’s Che Adams and Rennes’ Serhou Guirassy are among the list of targets, and ‘sources close to’ the Toffees claim that they are ‘calm and confident’ of strengthening up top:

“Serhou Guirassy still a target and Che Adams still expected to leave Southampton permanent before the window. Everton won’t pay “over the odds” clubs aware of desire for FW options. Sources close to club say they are calm and confident of strengthening up front.”

The Verdict: Exciting

It is certainly exciting to hear that Frank Lampard’s team could be bringing in two strikers before the deadline.

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They have played Anthony Gordon as a false nine in their first two Premier League games at home to Chelsea and away at Aston Villa respectively, losing both and only managing to score one goal.

Nonetheless, they need a natural number nine up top to emulate Calvert-Lewin and serve as a focal point even aside from scoring goals, and the England star’s injury record in the last 18 months  suggests this won’t be the first time this season he is out.

Glasgow Rangers have been handed ‘a little boost’ with the return to fitness of Alfredo Morelos for their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg clash, according to Frank McAvennie. 

The lowdown: Team news

This comes after it was confirmed that the Colombian striker, Ryan Kent and Fashion Sakala would be part of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s squad at Ibrox.

Returning from a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury, Morelos came off the bench to find the net in the 2-0 Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock, with the Gers’ boss admitting it was ‘good’ to have the 26-year-old back.

That view is shared by at least one pundit as Rangers prepare an attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Belgian top-flight outfit Union Saint-Gilloise…

The latest: ‘A little boost’

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie – who played for Celtic and Scotland – claimed it is a ‘boost’ to have the 11-cap star available once again.

He said: “I think he’s the best they’ve got as a striker. As a talent, he’s a good player there’s no doubting that. They’re going to need him on Tuesday as well as the other striker [Antonio Colak]. It’s good that he scored, it’s good that Morelos came off the bench and scored.

“That’s good for Rangers and it’s a little boost for them going in to the game on Tuesday. I think he’s the catalyst for them. And Rangers fans will be delighted he’s back and scoring. Hopefully he can do that for them on Tuesday.”

The verdict: Spot on

With 160 direct goal involvements in 225 outings for the Glasgow giants, having a player of Morelos’ calibre at Van Bronckhorst’s disposal should be heralded as a major positive going into what is now a crucial European encounter.

Dubbed a ‘fantastic talent’ by ex-Teddy Bears boss Steven Gerrard, last season the enigmatic Colombian scored 19 times and provided eight assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, netting six times in Europe in the process.

Qualifying from this round, and indeed beyond, would bring about a much-needed financial windfall that would allow Rangers to compete with substantiation in the market, an area Celtic are seemingly ahead on at present given their guaranteed participation in the group stage in 2022/23.

Goals in the side and a fever-pitch Ibrox atmosphere are going to be pivotal if the Gers are going to get over the line and the inclusion of the £11.7million valued Morelos in the squad certainly enhances the chances of another famous night.

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their plans for the rest of the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Journalist Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies are still in the market to improve their squad ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

PIF have brought in Nick Pope, Matt Targett, and Sven Botman on permanent deals and are now plotting significant additions to bolster Eddie Howe’s team.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “I think it’s worth pointing out that Newcastle do still want another midfielder. So, at the moment when it seems like things are quiet around Newcastle, it’s not.

“They’re working on a wide forward, a centre-forward and a midfielder. There’s three big positions and three big signings still to come.”

Supporters will be buzzing

This update will leave the supporters buzzing for multiple reasons.

Firstly, they will be delighted to learn that the club still want to make at least three more ‘big’ signings before the end of the window. It means that the fanbase has plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks as the Magpies’ business is far from over.

This will leave fans speculating over who they could bring in and getting excited by rumours regarding players the club are interested in, as they know that PIF are committed to making more splashes in the market.

Secondly, the supporters will be buzzing with the prospect of another central midfielder coming in the door. The arrival of Bruno Guimaraes in January has shown that the club can identify, and attract, top talent in that position and bringing in another player with similar quality would be exciting.

In the Premier League last season, the Brazil international averaged an exceptional SofaScore rating of 7.25 across 17 outings in the division. He chipped in with five goals and one assist in the middle of the park, whilst also showcasing his defensive awareness with 3.1 tackles and interceptions per game.

The 24-year-old excelled at both ends of the pitch and showed that he has the quality to be a standout performer in the English top flight.

Now, imagine PIF signing Guimaraes 2.0 between now and August. The fans will surely be excited by the prospect of another ‘big’ signing coming in that area of the pitch and will be keeping a keen eye on the club’s business in the weeks to come.

AND in other news, Ashworth can land huge ASM upgrade as NUFC plot bid to sign £180k-p/w “joy to watch”…

Journalist Josh Bunting has been left shocked by some transfer news that he has now heard from Everton.

The Lowdown: Winks talks

As per The Liverpool Echo, the Goodison Park outfit have held talks with Tottenham Hotspur over the potential signing of Harry Winks this summer.

They are at an early stage, but there is hope that a deal can be struck, as Frank Lampard has personally identified him as a player that can bolster his midfield options for next season.

The Latest: Bunting shocked

Taking to Twitter, Bunting was left shocked by the news, claiming that it would be ‘crazy’ if the Merseyside club signed Winks:

“Do Everton honestly not learn, £20-25 million for Harry Winks is an absolute waste. A club that have got themselves into an awkward situation regarding Financial Fair Play and then go out and spend that money on an utterly pointless player right now for them. Crazy.”

The Verdict: Look elsewhere

Lampard is bound to have admiration for Winks’ path from academy to the senior game as a former English midfielder himself, but he needs to put that behind him and look elsewhere for midfield targets.

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Winks made his senior England debut back in 2017, but he has not played for the Three Lions since 2020 (Transfermarkt), which has been completely reflective of his dip in form.

Lampard was a player renowned for scoring goals from the middle of the park, but Winks has remarkably only managed to score five times in over 200 matches for Spurs (Transfermarkt), and with the possibility that the Blues could lose both Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer, they should surely be looking to spend the little cash they have on proven end product.

A new name has emerged in Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans this summer…

What’s the word?

According to Alasdair Gold of football.london, Spurs have been tracking Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who Premier League rivals Newcastle United tried to sign earlier this year.

It remains to be seen how much the Brazil international would command, given how much of a regular he was for the Ligue 1 outfit last season.

Transfermarkt currently value the 24-year-old star at £31.5m, whilst he is thought to be earning wages in the region of £49k-per-week at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.

AC Milan will be due 15% of any sale due to an agreement in the €20m (£18m) deal to sell him.

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Frightening midfield unit

The arrival of Paqueta in north London would be quite the coup and could allow manager Antonio Conte to form one of the better midfield departments in the English top-flight.

During the 2021/22 campaign, the Lyon star delivered a total of 11 goals and seven assists from attacking midfield across both domestic and European competitions.

As such, WhoScored graded him as L’OL’s highest-rated player (7.24), whilst as per FBref, he ranks inside the top 6% for progressive passes (9.25 per 90), top 9% for shots (3.06 per 90) and top 12% for non-penalty xG+A (0.59 per 90) of his positional peers across Europe’s top five divisions.

“I love his dribbling and blind passing, but what I love is his desire, his activity, his selflessness, his commitment,” once claimed former Premier League talisman Thierry Henry.

With similar workmanlike players such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur, Paqueta could fit right in to make Spurs’ engine room one to be feared every week.

Meanwhile, teammate Jerome Boateng has also waxed lyrical about the Brazilian’s exploits, declaring:

“He brings so much to our team. He’s running a lot, his skills of course, his technique, his creating chances, his passing, his fighting for the ball, he helps us a lot. And I think he has a big potential to be really a world star in football.”

As such, sporting director Fabio Paratici must look to swoop for the Lyon playmaker in the coming months. He’d be a fine addition to Conte’s squad heading into a Champions League campaign.

AND in other news, Paratici now eyeing £18m-rated Spurs bargain, could be bye-bye “horrendous” Nuno flop…

Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has hinted that he will leave the club at the end of the season, having struggled to enjoy much playing time this season.

The Lowdown: Adrian’s lack of minutes

There was a time when the 35-year-old was the Reds’ hero in the 2019 Super Cup, as his penalty heroics in the shootout allowed the Reds to beat Chelsea.

Those days are long gone now, however, with Adrian the third-choice ‘keeper at Liverpool, having fallen behind Caoimhin Kelleher in the pecking order.

In fact, the Spaniard has been limited to just one solitary appearance this season, coming in the Carabao Cup against Preston, and he could leave when his contract expires next month.

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The Latest: Spaniard hints at exit

Speaking to Cadena SER [via Sport Witness], Adrian made it fairly clear what he wants next:

“Alisson is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We all want to play, and this season has not been as he would have liked. When we finish the season, we will evaluate; I still have a lot to contribute.

“I love my profession and being a professional. We will evaluate when the time comes.

“I would say yes, with a bit more strength (to a return to Spain). Obviously, the country pulls a little, and I would like to return to La Liga, but that is always if the opportunity arises. But I still have a year left on my contract.”

The Verdict: Time to leave

In truth, it makes perfect sense for Adrian to head elsewhere before next season, with Jurgen Klopp essentially deeming him surplus to requirements.

It is very difficult to envisage him usurping Kelleher as Alisson’s deputy, meaning he will again barely even make match-day squads moving forward.

At 35, Adrian is still not necessarily past his best as a goalkeeper, so a return to Spain to a club where he is first-choice between the sticks looks like an ideal way to see out his playing days.

In other news, journalist David Maddock has dropped a ‘huge’ Liverpool claim. Read more here.

Newcastle United reportedly ‘remain keen’ on signing Sven Botman in the summer, despite a ‘sensational twist’ that has now emerged.

The Lowdown: Milan bound?

It has been reported that the St. James’ Park faithful have ‘not given up hope’ of signing Botman in the summer, despite AC Milan already verbally agreeing personal terms with the Lille central defender.

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After failing to sign him in the January transfer window, the North East club have continually held ‘extensive negotiations’ over the potential signing, but it looks like Milan could be the favourites for his signature.

The Latest: Remain keen

As per Football Insider, the Tyneside outfit ‘remain keen’ on signing Botman, even though a ‘sensational twist’ has now emerged in the form of a new suitor.

According to a source from Manchester United, the Red Devils are now ‘exploring a move’ for the Dutchman, with ‘preliminary talks’ set to take place after a board meeting involving new manager Erik ten Hag.

The Verdict: Get it done

With Manchester United, who can offer Botman European football just like Milan, now entering the frame, the Magpies need to act fast to get this deal done.

Described as a ‘golden boy‘ by his agent Francesco Miniero, he is one of the most promising up-and-coming players in the game at just 22 years of age, having already played regularly at the highest level.

Nonetheless, at six-foot-five, he is an imposing centre-back, and could form a truly scary partnership with the six-foot-seven Dan Burn.

In other news, find out which ‘terrifying’ star NUFC are now eyeing here!

Australia exploited England’s long-standing weakness by picking an extra left-arm quick in Behrendorff, who came away with five wickets

Jarrod Kimber26-Jun-2019Australia were not shy in naming the reasons why Jason Behrendorff played against England. Speaking to in Australia, assistant coach Brad Haddin said “Jason just matches up really well against England. It wasn’t a really hard decision to pick him, we had this game in mind for Jason a long way out. And then leading into the game the conditions were perfect. He knew this game was coming, and his preparation was tailored towards that, he just matched up today with the conditions and the English batting line-up.”Behrendorff had played one other game this tournament, but it was only as a replacement for a sore Nathan Coulter-Nile. And Australia used him out of place – as a first-change bowler. Because of this he had little impact. Against England at Lord’s, where the clouds were in his favour, he bowled the first ball and ended with five wickets.But the reason Australia planned to use Behrendorff is that they – like others before them – have noted that England are struggling against left-arm seam. So far in this World Cup, it’s clear, England are struggling against left-arm seam.ESPNcricinfo LtdAnd this isn’t a new thing, though. Over the two years before the World Cup, England have been struggling against left-arm seam for quite some time. Not just in ODI cricket, but in Tests too.ESPNcricinfo LtdOnly in T20 cricket do they do well, but that’s from less than 200 balls of left-arm seam, so it’s far too small a sample size. The economy rates in ODIs are the same, it is just that the batsmen keep being dismissed by left-arm pacers.While it may feel like the entire world is being overrun by left-arm seam, in fact, most teams handle it well. And it is only 9% of all balls in ODI cricket.While England might have a problem with it, they are not the worst. Sri Lanka have the lowest average against left-arm quicks. But they are the same against left and right, there is no reason to target them. England are the best against right-arm seam, and below average against left-arm. They have no other obvious weaknesses. If you have a left-armer on the bench, it is worth using them.The only other team with a differential that is noticeable is the West Indies. It’s interesting that both teams have also struggled to create left-arm seamers at ODI level. Meaning they’ve faced little high quality left-arm pace in the nets as the opposition batsmen.ESPNcricinfo LtdBut while this list shows West Indies and England towards the end, it also has South Africa there, and they have played left-arm seam better than the right-armers of recent times.Even if the overall problem might come from facing less quality left-arm seam, each individual batsman would have their technical issues with it. Eoin Morgan’s will not be the same as Jonny Bairstow’s faults. It’s also something not happening with the tail or middle order, it starts right at the top. Three of England’s top-four struggle against it.ESPNcricinfo LtdBen Stokes, Jos Buttler and Joe Root have no problems, but in the top four, Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow do. But you can also see it in the lower-order allrounders: Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and even Adil Rashid have poorer records against it. James Vince is new to the side, and even his record shows problems against it, but these are not problems he’s had when playing domestically in T20s.In a franchise team, a good general manager would make sure you’d never have a team with this kind of weakness running down it, because you’d be a sitting duck. In international sport, there is not much you can do, these are England’s best players, it’s almost bad luck that so many seem to be weak against left-arm pacers.The World Cup format helps England, as there is only a 15-man squad, so South Africa can’t carry Wayne Parnell for one game.And the drop-off of England is so noticeable because they have been incredible against almost all other forms of bowling.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe only other kind of bowling against which England average under 40 is left-arm wristspin. And more than half of those balls are from Kuldeep Yadav, who regardless of his arm and spin, is one of the best bowlers in the world.When Sheldon Cottrell came back into the West Indies side, his left-handedness played a huge part. Cottrell had played ODIs before, but not been that successful, and had been out of the side for over six months when England came to Bridgetown. In that match Cottrell took five wickets and suddenly became the West Indies’ new-ball bowler.Before that game, Cottrell was a long way behind in the pecking order. West Indies had Shannon Gabriel, Oshane Thomas and Kemar Roach. Not to mention the allround seam options of Jason Holder, Carlos Brathwaite, Andre Russell and Keemo Paul. But because it was England, they took the gamble and it paid off. Later in the series Obed McCoy was brought in as injury cover, another left-arm seamer.No other team this World Cup has included a left-armer in their team for England who hadn’t been picked for the prior game. Pakistan, the kings of left-arm seam, even had one left on the bench in Shaheen Afridi. Australia were the first team since the West Indies to make the tactical move, and Jason Behrendorff took five wickets, with Mitchell Starc taking four of his own.ESPNcricinfo LtdEngland knew about all this for a while, their backroom staff have been tracking it. And they also made a very interesting move in having Donovan Miller – who coached the Jamaica Tallawah’s last year – in their coaching set-up. Miller is here in part because of his skill in throwdowns, and because he throws them left-arm.They have tried to prepare the England players as best they can, but this World Cup, left-arm seam is still their weakness.

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha on preparations for England, and his team’s recent success in Sri Lanka

Interview by Mohammad Isam25-Apr-2017In your stint as Bangladesh coach since 2014, where would you rate Bangladesh’s recent tour to Sri Lanka?
I think it is up there as one of the best tours we’ve had in my time, in terms of results and performance. It is on par with the 2015 World Cup, which was a bit of a challenge to play in those conditions. Winning a Test in Sri Lanka is really tough. I am a bit disappointed that we didn’t win the ODI series. I was expecting to win the ODI series in Sri Lanka. In terms of attitude, it is also up there, after the first game.What is Bangladesh’s target going to be in the Champions Trophy? You face England, Australia and New Zealand in the group stages.
It is going to be a bit unknown for us. We haven’t played in England for a long time. It is going to be a big challenge for us. A lot of it will depend on the English summer. If it is going to be a dry summer, it will help us. Even if it is not, we are going early to prepare so we have equal chance with others. Having said that, we are playing against three of the best sides in the world. I can’t predict what we are going to do, but whatever we achieve in any of those games is going to be a big achievement.You and many of the players talked about a team meeting after the Galle Test. Do you think bouncing back to win in Colombo was because the team was able to put emotion aside and play?
I won’t say that there was a lack of emotion, but certainly after the meeting, they were all prepared not to put themselves down in the middle. It was what they decided.After the first Test, I was a bit frustrated with the closeness. We performed well but, from a winning position, we gave it away in New Zealand, especially in the Test matches. It continued to happen in Galle, so I was a bit disappointed. I asked the boys the questions and they came up with something. Always as coaches, we want them to take their own decisions in the middle. As long as they are responsible for their actions, that’s all we can ask for. That’s what they decided to do.Bangladesh started well in the ODI series but couldn’t close it out. What do you put that down to? Was it just one bad day?
We played a very good game in the first game. They got 300-plus in the second, but unfortunately the weather intervened. We were confident that the pitch was very good. If the game was reduced, it would have played into our hands as well.We had an advantage winning the toss in the third game. I am very disappointed with the way we bowled. It was not a bad day. We didn’t actually perform to our ability with the bat and the ball. We didn’t bowl well in the first 15 overs when there was something in it for the bowlers. They got off to a start. And when we were batting well in not-so-helpful conditions, we lost three wickets. So it can be put down to poor performance.”I think I have strong views of how I want to do my job and bring the best out of the Bangladesh team. I want to push the players to find their best form or potential in international cricket”•Raton Gomes/BCBAs the head coach, how do you see Mashrafe Mortaza’s retirement from T20Is? Were you surprised, or had he already informed you of his intentions?
I am not surprised by his retirement. All good players know when to quit. Mashrafe has a lot of respect from the playing and coaching group. He earns it. Players like him know when to quit. I think that’s what happened. Mashrafe thought that there was not much challenge in front of him in T20s. He thought that this is the best series in which to announce his retirement.I never expected him to make the announcement at the toss. But I think he timed it well, because good players know when to go – either when their performance is not good or they don’t have anything to look forward to.What is the role of senior players like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah? Do you feel they should have greater roles in all three formats, or do you want to see them become format specialists?
I think they are all good players. They can play for more than ten years in international cricket. They all warrant their places in their own right. Of course, form goes up and down, but that can happen to any player. I can’t say that they should become specialists but, as I said before about Mashrafe, it is up to them to understand what they want to achieve in their career and how they want to contribute to the team. I think they still have the drive to play all three formats.How would you rate the progress of the youngsters Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman and Mustafizur Rahman over the last three tours?
All three players have contributed significantly in our overall performance in the last three tours. I think they are the future. They are holding their own in the international level, competing with other players.Are you planning to use T20Is to conduct your experiments, like bringing in rookie fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin to play Sri Lanka recently? Do you want players to prove themselves in this format before being selected for Tests and ODIs? Is it like a replacement for the Bangladesh A team?
I wouldn’t say that it is an experimental ground. Because we don’t have a World T20 in the near future, it is where we can look at our combination. Our record says we are not a very good T20 team.We discussed one thing before the second T20I against Sri Lanka. We had a good team meeting again. The boys took the responsibility when we prompted questions about how we wanted to get better in T20s. They came up with how they wanted to play. We are going into unknown areas. We can’t do what we have been doing, because we are not being good enough to win T20s.It is not experimenting, but a way to find out our best combination in T20s. In terms of that, we will try to find the best way to play. Probably we will play a more expansive game depending on the conditions and the team we are playing against.”Mashrafe has a lot of respect from the playing and coaching group. He earns it. Players like him know when to quit”•Getty ImagesHow do you respond to criticism about being too powerful and authoritative? Does it bother you, or do you believe that a coach requires more power under his jurisdiction to operate better?
(Laughs) I don’t feel powerful or authoritative. I don’t know how people are saying… I find Bangladesh people very warm and friendly. I sometimes may sound authoritative, but it comes with my job. I have to make decisions and I have to be responsible for my decisions. But if you find me outside cricket, I am just another person.I think I have strong views of how I want to do my job and bring the best out of the Bangladesh team. I want to give something back to the passionate Bangladesh fans and push the players to find their best form or potential in international cricket. Going about doing this kind of thing, if I come across as authoritative, I am not half-bothered because I am doing my job.I don’t see myself as powerful. I am just the head coach, but with that comes certain power and I use it for the best of the team.Do you feel that the new selection system is working in the team’s favour now?
The selectors had to make some tough decisions in the last few tours, especially after the injuries in New Zealand and India, and then in Sri Lanka after losing four Tests in a row. We had to make four changes because of injuries and lack of form. So making these four changes and winning a Test is a credit to the selection, isn’t it? I don’t think, in history, there are many instances of a team making four changes after losing a Test to then win matches.At the same time, we have been consistent in giving opportunities to players like Saifuddin and bringing them up. We have been specific with what we want. The selection committee looked ahead to the future and has not been emotional and afraid to make judgement calls on form and what is needed for a particular game.What would be your target in the preparation camp in Sussex and in the tri-series featuring Bangladesh, Ireland and New Zealand?
The Sussex camp is all about getting used to the conditions. I mentioned earlier, we really want to get hold of our game, how we approach. We want to go and see how we want to play in the English summer. We know that it can be different every year. We want to find our best game plan, one that is suited to our ability and skill set.In Ireland, we want to win the series. We want to improve our ODI position in the rankings and, of course, it is a big challenge. It is not going to be easy. And we want to be prepared for the Champions Trophy in the best possible way.

After a tough introduction to international cricket as a bowler, Shuvagata Hom returns to the T20 squad in a role that suits him better – a lower-order big-hitter

Mohammad Isam in Khulna12-Jan-2016Shuvagata Hom, the Bangladesh allrounder, has found his way back into the Bangladesh team for the first time in six months.But questions of his faltering Test career do not go away. At the first mention of it, he broke into a wide smile. It wasn’t a happy one though; more like one that comes when reminded of a painful memory. He played seven Tests as an offspinner from September 2014 to June 2015, but there were periods when he did not even get to bowl. Also, his batting position was too low to have an impact on the game.Chief selector Faruque Ahmed had been among those concerned about Shuvagata’s place in the Bangladesh side during the Test series against Pakistan in April 2015. Shuvagata was dropped thereafter, but has not gone down without a fight. He made three fifties on Bangladesh A’s tour of India and a 92 against Zimbabwe A.A strong BPL 2015 has also helped – he made only 94 runs in nine innings, but his brisk cameos were just what champions Comilla Victorians needed in the middle and end overs. Those performances have brought him a place in the Bangladesh T20 side to face Zimbabwe later this month, where he will play a role more suited to him, that of a lower-order big-hitter.”I played in the Test team as a bowling allrounder but I think of myself as a batting allrounder,” Shuvagata said. “I got opportunities to bat for the Bangladesh A team after getting dropped from the national team. By doing well in that team, I got back my confidence. I felt that I could make a comeback by making use of those batting opportunities for Bangladesh A. This is an opportunity to get myself a place in the side for the Asia Cup and World T20.”Bangladesh have been searching for batsmen who can play strokes from the get-go with the World T20 coming up, and it has led them to Shuvagata, whose strike rate of 142.42 was the second best in the BPL among batsmen who played at least nine innings. “I am a strokeplayer so I think that’s why they picked me in T20s. I enjoy this format because it fits my style of batting. I hope I do well in this series whenever I get a chance.”In the BPL there were times when I got some time to think out in the middle. But I also tried to play shots instantly in the last few overs,” he said.In September 2014, Shuvagata was thought to be a like-for-like replacement for the specialist offspinner Sohag Gazi. He continued to play that role until his relegation from the national outfit. Now he comes back as a batsman down the order who can hit out from ball one. Will his reinvention be successful? The four T20s against Zimbabwe that start on January 15 will be a good chance to find out.