MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY is emerging as one of the top talents in English football, but his secret weapon would have made him a top rugby player too.
Lewis-Skelly, 18, has gone from unknown by the majority to a regular Arsenal starter and England’s youngest-ever debutant scorer in the space of one season.
There’s no doubt that there’s a plethora of skills in his arsenal, but it’s one in particular that has earned him comparisons to rugby legend Jonah Lomu.
That’s his ability to replicate rugby’s hand-off, a skill mastered by Lomu during his career.
The comparisons are so much so that, as first reported by The Telegraph, an academy coach once said: “It’s like Jonah Lomu, isn’t it?”, while Lewis-Skelly stormed through midfield in a youth match between Arsenal and Chelsea a few years back.
Lewis-Skelly’s ability to outstretch his arm and hold off his opponent has become one of the best parts of his game, making him almost impossible to tackle.
It’s been evident in so many of his games, none more so than when he held away Albania player Jasir Asania to gain an extra yard and poke home his debut for goal for England during the international break.
Even Mikel Arteta has discussed his “natural” ability to hold players away from him on a regular basis.
The Arsenal boss said: “He has always been very comfortable running past players and holding people away from him and very far from the ball. It is a natural thing.”
While teammate Declan Rice thinks that Lewis-Skelly’s game is more similar to a star much closer to home.
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Rice thinks that the Hale End graduate’s ability to use his body is just like that of former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele.
“He has got that Mousa Dembélé trait where he uses his body to get away from stuff,” Rice said recently.
“Sometimes it is risky but to show that at 18, the personality and character, honestly it’s unbelievable.”
Of course, Lewis-Skelly is not Dembele and he’s certainly not going to be picking up the ball and running with it like Lomu anytime soon.
But they’re flattering comparisons for a player who has already notched 14 Premier League appearances, six Champions League games and two England caps this season.
While he’s not the only one at Arsenal that is catching the eye either.
Best mate and teammate Ethan Nwaneri has already scored eight senior goals for the Gunners this season and has himself drawn comparisons to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
Both Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly are likely to be called upon even more as Arteta tries to balance his squad with important Premier League clashes and a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on the horizon.
But the burden on Nwaneri’s shoulders will be lifted somewhat after Arteta revealed that Bukayo Saka is back from his hamstring injury and “ready to go”.
A SWEEP by the Irish Army of vast swathes of land has provided “hope” to locals in the search for Kerry farmer Mike Gaine.
The popular 56-year-old Kenmare man vanished almost two weeks ago after last being seen in a local shop.
There has been no communication from him, nor any reported sightings anywhere since he was last seen on March 20.
There have been extensive searches of Mike’s farmyard, while a number of slurry tanks were emptied.
Excavations with diggers were also carried out, as well as ground searches over many kilometres stretching out from the farm.
The Garda helicopter and drones have been involved in aerial surveys, while the Garda Water Unit has tasked divers to search a number of nearby lakes and a disused quarry.
Gardai, Civil Defence, the Coast Guard, Kerry Mountain Rescue and up to 250 local volunteers are among the agencies now involved in the massive operation.
Trained sniffer dogs have also been utilised in the probe, which is still being treated as a missing person’s case.
The Defence Forces joined the search today as it moved to higher and more dangerous ground.
A spokesman for the military told The Irish Sun today they were “engaged in a supporting capacity as part of our Aid to the Civil Power role, as this operation is led by An Garda Siochana”.
Up to 50 members combined from the 12th Infantry Battalion in Limerick and the 3rd Infantry Battalion in Kilkenny are assisting in the searches over the coming days.
A Garda spokesman added: “These lands are rough, open ground and at higher altitude, and the experience and discipline of trained personnel is appropriate to assist in carrying out these searches.”
All resources are being used in the search for the popular farmer, whose land comprises of over 1,000 acres, much of which is rough mountain and bogland.
It is understood an area of focus for the searches is a large stream at the back of the farmhouse that eventually joins the Kenmare River.
A possible theory being examined is that Mike might have fallen into this waterway and been swept away by floodwaters while repairing a water connection to his shed.
Over the weekend, a large amount of farm land and various waterways, including lakes, quarries and rivers, were searched by the Garda Sub-Aqua Unit.
Coastguard units have also been involved in water searches going from the farm along the adjoining River Finnihy to Kenmare Bay, while Kerry Mountain Rescue has thrown all its resources into the search.
Trained dogs from the Rescue Dog Association have also been combing the countryside with their handlers.
But, despite the extensive efforts, no positive results have been yielded.
Gardai have stood down searches by members of the public who turned out in force to help with the search because of the isolated locations they are now searching.
And they have appealed to people not to try to access those areas or to do anything that might hamper the activities of the trained personnel now involved.
As time passes, there are deep concerns on the part of the Gardai and his family for Mike’s safety and well-being.
His disappearance has been completely baffling as he was known for his involvement in the community and his love for his family.
Mike was last seen when he bought phone credit in the Centra store in Kenmare, apparently en route to his isolated mountain farm at Carrig East near the famous Moll’s Gap.
He was caught on CCTV at 9.48am on Thursday, March 20.
The farm is located off the N71 Killarney to Kenmare road, and the junction to this road is located just yards from the Centra supermarket and filling station.
The search began the following day, and his distinctive bronze Rav4 Toyota jeep was discovered parked outside the farmhouse with his wallet and phone inside.
It appears nothing was taken from the wallet and his phone was intact.
This is being examined by forensic experts to see if it yields any clues of contact with persons or any reason for his disappearance.
The local community in Kenmare have expressed shock and sadness over Mike’s disappearance which is completely out of character for the farmer.
Prayers for his safe return were said at Masses in Kerry over the weekend.
Kenmare-based Fine Gael Councillor Teddy O’Sullivan said that “while the town is in bits”, the arrival of the Army has brought some hope to the area.
He said: “There would be a certain amount of hope, I suppose.
“That’s all we have to live in at the moment is hope. We would be very hopeful that it would turn up something. The town is in bits altogether. Everyone is talking about it and wondering what happened.
“It’s very hard at the minute when no answers are coming.
“It’s gone on now nearly two weeks and as every day goes by it gets more concerning.”
Gardai continue to appeal to the public for assistance in tracing Mike’s whereabouts.
A spokeswoman said: “Michael’s family have had no contact from him and his family and An Garda Siochana are extremely concerned for his well-being.
“Michael is described as being approximately 5ft, 10in tall, with a stocky build, brown/grey hair and a bushy beard. When last seen, Michael was wearing an orange woolly hat, black fleece, blue jeans and black boots.
“An Garda Siochana has continued to carry out enquiries in the Kenmare locality and searches continued to be carried out over the weekend, supported by other State and voluntary agencies, in our ongoing efforts to locate Michael.
“An Garda Siochana wishes to thank members of the public who have assisted in searches previously.
“An Garda Siochana is not requesting the assistance of the general public for further searches, at this time.
“However, Gardai continue to want to speak to any person who travelled on the N71 on Thursday, March 20, after 09.48am and/or any person who may have any camera footage, including dash-cam or CCTV, or any other images from Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 in the Kenmare town/Moll’s Gap (N71/ R568) area to provide that imagery to the Garda investigation team.
“Contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.”
JURGEN KLOPP could be set to hire his first manager at RB Leipzig after acquiring his new role at Red Bull.
Klopp, 57, began his role as Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull on New Year’s Day, just six months after rolling credits on his glittering nine-year stint as Liverpool manager.
And the legendary German tactician could go back to the Premier League to find a new manager for Leipzig, who now have Zsolt Low in charge on an interim capacity after Marco Rose’s dismissal on Sunday.
According to Sky Sports, the Bundesliga giants are keeping tabs on Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, it seems like Glasner, 50, wasn’t the first choice and Leipzig turned their attention on him after Sebastian Hoeness extended his stay as Stuttgart manager.
The same source claims there has already been contact between the German outfit and the Austrian tactician’s camp.
However, if the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt boss wishes to leave Palace then the Prem outfit will require a transfer fee.
That is because the Europa League winner’s contract doesn’t run out until 2026.
Nevertheless, there is said to still be an “exit option” for Glasner this summer.
And Klopp may have a lot of help from Leipzig’s managing director of sport Marcel Schafer, who knows the Eagles’ boss very well from their time working together at Wolfsburg.
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Glasner turned Palace’s fortunes around upon his arrival in February last year.
The Leipzig target transformed the Eagles from Premier League relegation strugglers to a strong side that took points off the big hitters.
Glasner counts a total of 24 wins and 13 losses in 49 matches with the Prem side.
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