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Wolves youngster Connor Ronan needs to seal a permanent move away from Molineux despite his undoubted ability, according to journalist Tim Spiers.

The Lowdown: Ronan shining out on loan

The 24-year-old is currently out on loan at St Mirren, having joined the Scottish Premiership side on a temporary basis last summer.

Ronan has done well during his time there to date, scoring seven goals and registering three assists in 21 league starts, catching the eye in the middle of the park.

It is just the latest of many loan moves for the midfielder, however, and it could be that a permanent Wolves exit makes sense this summer.

The Latest: Spiers calls for permanent Wolves exit

That is certainly the opinion of Spiers, who took to Twitter on Thursday to laud Ronan’s quality but also admit it is time for him to leave Wanderers for good:

“Lage likes him, in fact everyone does. Not sure how you couldn’t really, his technique is so good. Just never quite fitted in and the first team standard is so high. He’s 24, the loans have been good for developing his game and he needs a permanent home now.”

[freshpress-quiz id=“388797″]

The Verdict: Makes perfect sense

At 24, this is now a crucial point in Ronan’s career and he needs to be settled at a new club in order to reach his potential.

Jumping between teams on loan can be good experience for a player in his late teens or early 20s but the Irishman is now beyond that point and has to become less nomadic.

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It is hard to see how he will ever become a key figure at Wolves – he has only made 13 first-team appearances for the club – so a move away makes sense for all parties.

In other news, Spiers has also been left wowed by one Wolves player. Find out who it is here.

Stephen Fleming made a powerful statement of form ahead of New Zealand’s Test matches against England when he made 88 not out as Wellington beat Northern Districts by seven wickets in a State Championship match at the Basin Reserve today.But in doing so, Fleming also cast doubt on the form of the players who might be entrusted with the new ball throughout the England series – the Northern quicks Daryl Tuffey and Ian Butler.Fleming’s was a majestic innings which lasted two hours and 38 minutes and which contained 16 fours and a six or 70 runs from boundaries. He scored 48 runs today, moving from 40 overnight to 88 in the 70 minutes it took Wellington to complete their fourth outright win in successive games.He put on 99 runs in an overnight partnership for the fourth wicket with Luke Woodcock which lasted 115 minutes and added 61 in 43 minutes for the fifth wicket with Grant Donaldson. Donaldson hit the winning runs – a four from James Marshall – in only the 15th over of the day and at 11.40am, still 70 minutes before lunch.Wellington had begun the day at 123/2 with Fleming 40 not out and the youngster Woodcock settled and batting well at 30 not out. They had gone on to 152 before Woodcock was out in the 48th over for his highest first-class score of 38 and added the last 58 runs without further loss and with almost unseemly haste.Fleming’s first-class appearances for Wellington have been rare but are always appealing. This was only his second match for his adoptive association and his 88 – a sparkling innings – followed his 115 against Central Districts in his debut appearance.The concern that mingled with the delight in Fleming’s batting performance, achieved as it was while he was limited by injury, was that he greeted the attempted menaces of Tuffey and Butler so lightly. With no other selectors at this match, Fleming performed an important role as the eyes of the panel members at this match. His particular interest would have been in the form of Tuffey and, more probably, Butler.Butler had bowled well at times in both of Wellington’s innings. He built up real pace in his new ball spells in both innings and clearly disconcerted some batsmen who are not used to his pace. The young Woodcock survived only two balls in the first innings though he faced Butler and Tuffey with courage in the second.But Fleming, a player of unmitigated class, was almost casual in the manner in which he treated Butler. Though Butler scored a small victory when he hit his captain on the hip in the Wellington first innings, causing him obvious discomfort and forcing him to bat with a runner through both innings, Fleming never seemed to find him difficult.In the second innings and particularly today, Fleming treated Butler and Tuffey with an amused contempt.Butler didn’t open the bowling today. Tuffey did, from the Northern end, while Joseph Yovich was the first bowler used downwind.When Butler did join the attack he seldom troubled either Fleming or Donaldson. In fact, the Wellington pair helped themselves to 19 runs from one of his overs – his 12th and the 50th of the innings. Butler bowled three overs today and conceded 27 runs. Tuffey bowled six overs for 30 runs and Fleming punished him similarly. Fleming also harmed Yovich, stinging him in a single over with two majestic cover drives.It might not have been helpful to the brittle confidence of the young Butler that his own captain treated him so disdainfully but Fleming might feel his young charge will learn quickest in the school of hard knocks.As the national selectors consider their bowling options ahead of the Test team announcement on Friday they may have to consider the fact that a world class batsman is not likely to be troubled by Butler’s pace alone.Fleming is all class. Even hampered by injury and batting with a runner (Richard Jones) he played magnificently today, placing the ball into the on-side field for the occasional single to rotate the strike then unleashing superb drives or ramped cuts over slip and gully.Wellington simply strode to victory, much sooner than anyone could have expected. They now share the lead in the Championship competition with Auckland on 33 points, seven ahead of Central Districts.Wellington play Central and Auckland in the last two Championship rounds.”I was disappointed after our first innings,” Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson said. “I thought we had shown some poor decision-making with they way guys got out.”But I’ve always believed the third innings is probably the most important innings of any match. It sets up what happens in the last innings and I felt it was a great effort to bowl them out for 140. It was great to see our bowlers come up again and do the job for us.”I was a lot more content with the way we batted in the last innings.”Fleming batted superbly. He’s a better batsman than anything around in this match and he showed it. I just wish we had him for the next two games.”

Mohammad Asif bowled only four overs during South Africa’s second innings in Lahore © AFP

Mohammad Asif is a doubtful starter for the ODI series against South Africa – commencing next week – due to an elbow injury. Asif will also not bowl any further during the second Test in Lahore.Asif went off the field on the third day of the Test, after having bowled four overs, with what was thought to be a recurrence of an elbow problem that has bothered him since last year’s tour of England.Talat Ali, Pakistan’s manager, said Asif had sought medical advice and been told to not bowl for the next week. “There is a light inflammation in the elbow. He can do his normal training but he has been advised by the doctor to not bowl for the next week.”Though Ali added that Asif should be fit, the ODI series begins in Lahore from October 18, which gives Asif little time to get match-fit.

Limited tickets will go on sale on Wednesday for the MCG Test © Getty Images

The last remaining general public tickets for the Ashes Tests at the Gabba and the MCG will go on sale on Wednesday. There are 950 tickets remaining for day two at the Gabba Test, 2000 for day three and 3500 for day four. About 950 tickets are still available for day two of the MCG Test, 4000 for day three and 15,000 for day four.About 1600 tickets also remain for the Twenty20 international between Australia and England at the SCG on January 9. The Test and Twenty20 tickets can be bought on the internet, by phone or through outlets via the ticket agency in the state where the matches will be played. They go on sale from 10am AEDT on Wednesday.There are also about 2000 tickets still available for day five of the second Test at Adelaide Oval. The Adelaide tickets were part of the original allocation and are on sale now.

Scorecard
Reon King took a wicket off the last ball of the match as Guyana and Leeward Islands played out a thrilling tie in a high-scoring game at Windward Cricket Club in Barbados. Leeward Islands, chasing 292 to win, required nine to win off the last over when King induced Carl Simon to edge to the wicketkeeper to effect a tie.Earlier, Ramnaresh Sarwan scored his second successive century of the tournament to enable Guyana to reach 291. Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Narsingh Deonarine both pitched in with 52.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Executive Committee decided to reappoint Brendon Kuruppu as manager for Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand, starting in mid-December. Sri Lanka is due to play a series of five one-day internationals and two Tests.Kuruppu, a former Sri Lanka Test wicket-keeper cum opening bat was first appointed manager to the national team in October for the tour to Pakistan, following the expiry of long term manager Ajith Jayasekera’s contract at the end of September. Sri Lanka won the tri-nation Paktel Cup and shared the two-Test series one-all in Pakistan. SLC are hoping to advertise for a new manager after the New Zealand tour.

Adam Hollioake is to embark on a 2000-mile journey from Edinburgh to Tangiers in northern Morocco, to help raise money for the Ben Hollioake Memorial Fund. The fund was set up in memory of his brother, who died in a car crash in Perth, Western Australia, in March 2002, aged just 24.In order to raise money for the fund, Adam will walk, cycle and sail in a trip that is expected to take two months. He will leave Edinburgh on October 2, and all the funds raised will go towards honouring a pledge made by the Hollioake family to raise £5 million (US$8 million) in five years for the CHASE Children’s Hospice Service in London.CHASE works in support of children who are not expected to reach their 19th birthday. Adam, who turns 32 on Friday, said: “I got involved with CHASE over the last six years but I was a fairly fair-weather charity supporter just doing the odd piece of shirt-signing.”But this is the biggest thing I have been involved with charity-wise. Ben was very similar to me, just signing a few shirts, but he had helped out with this charity before and so it seemed appropriate to choose CHASE.”Hollioake will be accompanied by the European heavyweight boxing champion Scott Welch, and the Lancashire cricketer Ian Sutcliffe. John Major, a lifelong Surrey fan, will be joining him at some point on the UK walking phase, along with members of the current England squad.Hollioake aims to complete 594 miles over 28 days, at an average of nearly 30 miles per day. “I was involved in choosing the route," he explained. "I wanted to travel a long way."On November 1, at Brighton Marina, Hollioake and his companions will set sail from Brighton for Dieppe in France, on board the Ocean Youth Trust boat. They then cycle from Dieppe to Gibraltar via the southwestern French town of Perpignan, and from Gibraltar to Tangiers by boat.”We would like to raise 5 million to pay for the building of a new day centre for CHASE,” Hollioake explained. "This should also cover the initial running costs."

Friday afternoon in Colombo was anything but normal, as a new governmentswept to power, a countrywide curfew was imposed and shop shelves werestripped bare after panic buying. But, whilst the country as a wholeprepares for a new era, the cricket team hopes to continue with business asusual.Sri Lanka’s one-day form during the past two years has been exceptional andwith a transitional period now completed a youthful, settled and experiencedside start the LG Abans triangular ODI series against Zimbabwe and WestIndies as overwhelming favourites.Sri Lanka have not lost a one-day competition at home for over three years,but captain Sanath Jayasuriya and coach Dav Whatmore warned today againstcomplacency."We cannot underestimate Zimbabwe and West Indies; both are good sides andZimbabwe have been having plenty of one-day practice during the past twomonths," said Jayasuriya.Whatmore added: "It is good to go into the series having won a Test series,but with the exception of Bangladesh and Kenya, I don’t think there are anyeasy games. And if you go out thinking it’s going to be easy, then you areasking for trouble."The home side are set to revert back to six batsmen, five bowler formation,with recalled fast bowling all-rounder Suresh Perera likely to bat at numberseven."Suresh (Perera) has rehabilitated pretty well and is in the squad on meritafter two good performances for the Board XI side against Zimbabwe," saidWhatmore. "He should be confidant of being successful. He gives us an extraedge with the bat if we need to accelerate in the middle order and greaterbowling options."Pace bowler Nuwan Zoysa will also play, ahead of Charitha Buddika Fernandoand Prabath Nissanka, who were both blooded in Sharjah and could still playlater in the tournament, especially if Sri Lanka qualify early for thefinal.Leg-spinner Upul Chandana comes back and will contest the second spinnersslot with Kumar Dharmasena. Sri Lanka may even play three spinners for thegames at Premadasa International Stadium, where the pitches tend to be slowturners.The unavailability of injured wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana gives KumarSangakkara an opportunity to stake his claim for a permanent place in theone-day team. He is expected to bat in the middle order, a position that heappears unsuited to, but Whatmore didn’t rule out the possibility of achance in the top order at some stage.Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka’s opponents in the first game at the Sinhalese SportsClub on Saturday, come into the tournament with three wins againstBangladesh under their belt, but two early tour losses during their warm-upgames.Captain Stuart Carlisle, though, was upbeat about his team’s chances: "Ithink we have a good chance of getting to the finals. Sri Lanka are going tobe very hard to beat: they are on top of the world at the moment and playinggood cricket. But we have had some good contests against the West Indiesrecently and it depends on who is going to play the best cricket. If we canget to the final then anything can happen."As always the touring batsmen have to mindful about Muttiah Muralitharan andCarlisle admitted that the 29-year old was uppermost in their thoughts."Everyone has got to develop their own game plan against Muralitharan," hesaid. "It is a matter of picking the straight ball. Some may sweep, some mayhit over the top; it depends on the individual concerned."But Zimbabwe’s chances were dealt a blow on Friday with injuries topromising all-rounder Sean Ervine (suspected stress fracture of the back)and seam bowler Gary Brent (shoulder). Brent still could play if he passes alate fitness test, but it looks like they will have to make a choice betweenMuleki Nkala and Trevor Gripper for the final slot.Sri Lanka:Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Avishka Gunawardene, MahelaJayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Suresh Perera,Kumar Dharmasena, Upul Chandana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, NuwanZoysa, Charitha Buddika Fernando, Prabath NissankaZimbabwe:Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Craig Wishart,Douglas Marillier, Tatendra Taibu, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, HeathStreak, Mluleki Nkala, Trevor Gripper, Gary Brent, Sean Ervine,

ScorecardThe Papua New Guinea players line up for a team photograph after beating Nepal•ICC/Saleem Sanghati

Captain Jack Vare’s match-winning 76 led Papua New Guinea to their second successive successful last-over chase against Nepal in Abu Dhabi. Chasing 225 for victory, PNG had been reduced to 141 for 7 before Vare combined with John Reva (31) to change the complexion of the game with an unbroken 84-run stand. The pair brought down the equation from 60 off 60 to 6 off 6 before Vare struck the first ball off the last over for four to effectively kill the game and complete a stunning comeback win.Earlier, Nepal got off to a poor start after choosing to bat, losing both their openers in the first over as Norman Vanua trapped them both lbw. Sagar Pun (47) and Gyanendra Malla (36) then steadied the innings with a 66-run stand which was followed by partnerships of 51 and 60 for the fourth and fifth wickets respectively, as Nepal’s middle order got stuck in to the bowling.Nepal’s captain Paras Khadka top-scored with 58 and found able company in Sharad Vesawkar (42). However, the batsmen failed to find the required impetus towards the end of the innings and finished with 224 for 8. Vanua and Assad Vala claimed three wickets each.PNG lost Lega Siaka for a duck in the first over of the chase but Vala and Tony Ura struck a brisk 42-run second-wicket partnership. The game turned again as Nepal found wickets with regularity and reduced PNG to 141 for 7 in the 35th over. Sompal Kami did the early damage, picking up figures of 3 for 51 and Basant Regmi scalped two middle-order wickets.

Aston Villa secured a much-needed victory last weekend with their 2-0 win against Brighton after losing their two prior league games.

This weekend sees the Midlands club take on Southampton at Villa Park to see if they can pick up another three points and get closer to breaking into the top half of the table.

With that in mind, it seems as though Steven Gerrard could have an extra option back in his squad to take on the Saints.

What’s the latest?

According to a recent tweet from Ashley Preece, Villa winger Bertrand Traore has rejoined first team training this week after picking up an injury during the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

The Burkina Faso international joined the Midlands club in 2020 from French side Lyon in a deal worth a reported £17m.

Since arriving at Villa Park, the 26-year-old has made 45 appearances across all competitions, chipping in with eight goals and providing seven assists in the process, showing what a useful player he can be for the team in an attacking sense when he’s fit enough to play.

His debut season in a Villa shirt went rather well, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in 36 league appearances and earning himself an overall performance rating of 6.85/10, making him the seventh-highest rated outfield player at the club according to WhoScored.

However, having only appeared in six Premier League games this season and just two since Gerrard was appointed back in November, the winger will undoubtedly be keen to get back out on the pitch and properly get his season going, in the same way that the 41-year-old will surely be ecstatic to have him back.

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If the attacker can maintain his fitness for the remainder of the season, not only will he provide his manager with an extra attacking option if he feels the need to change things up, but also offer a real threat in front of goal, either by scoring himself or creating opportunities for his team-mates. The extra precision he could bring is something Villa have lacked in recent games, so Traore’s impending return could be very timely indeed.

In other news: NSWE had lucky escape over “ridiculous” Villa flop who “goes past people like Ronaldo”