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Sunderland are back in Championship action this weekend and journalist James Hunter has dropped a key injury update regarding a couple of players.

Who is currently injured at Sunderland?

The Black Cats have gone nearly a fortnight without playing, with the international break frustratingly getting in the way of their momentum, having enjoyed a stunning 5-0 win at home to much-fancied Southampton in their last outing at the Stadium of Light.

On Saturday afternoon, Tony Mowbray's side head to Queens Park Rangers looking to continue their good form, with their opponents sitting 17th in the table currently after picking up two wins and three defeats from their opening five matches.

Sunderland have been having to make do without two key figures this season, however, with Aji Alese and new forward Eliezer Mayenda both failing to play a single minute of Championship action between them in 2023/24 to date.

Ahead of Saturday's trip to west London, a fresh update has now emerged regarding the pair's availability.

Will Sunderland duo be fit to face QPR?

Taking to X, The Chronicle's Hunter claimed that Alese and Mayenda could return to full training later this month, so although they won't take part this weekend, they are both making steady progress:

"Good news on the injury front with two men just weeks away from full training and possible involvement in #safc's Championship campaign."

The report itself goes into more detail, saying:

"Aji Alese and summer signing Eliezer Mayenda could be back in full training within a fortnight – and could feature in Sunderland's Championship campaign before next month's international break. Defender Alese has not played since aggravating a thigh injury when he was rushed back to play in Sunderland's play-off semi-final second leg against Luton Town in May.

"And Spanish striker Mayenda has played no part after suffering a hamstring injury in his very first training session with the Black Cats following his move from French side Sochaux at the end of July. Head coach Tony Mowbray says both players are training with the club's medical staff but could be involved with the first team sessions before the end of September."

While not having Alese and Mayenda available for Saturday's clash with QPR isn't ideal, this still has to be considered a positive update for Sunderland when looking at the grand scheme of things.

To have the duo back by the end of the month could be a real boost for Mowbray, in terms of quality and depth, as the Black Cats look to continue to show that they should again be considered among the clubs capable of being promoted to the Premier League ahead of next season.

The former played his part in last season's success, making 21 Championships and chipping in with a goal and assist apiece, while the latter joined from French side Sochaux in the summer and is still looking to make his mark as a bright 18-year-old talent.

While neither are necessarily among the first names on Sunderland's team sheet, having lots of options is so essential across a long and gruelling season domestically, and both Alese and Mayenda could have big parts to play between now and next May.

Quite a few players on England’s women’s team have been playing in Australia over the winter. That will stand them in good stead as their Ashes tour gets underway Down Under

Charlotte Edwards23-Jan-2008

Bring it on: this is England’s first tour of Australia since 2003-03 © Getty Images
We’re on the plane as I’m writing this, having just left Hong Kong, and we’re all excited about our tour Down Under. Against Australia we have a Twenty20, a one-day series and an Ashes Test – these games being played around Melbourne and Sydney – then we are on to New Zealand for more of the shorter games.It’s the first time we have been here since the 2002-03 season, when Australia edged a tight Test series and then took the World Series title in New Zealand, so we are looking forward to competing out there once again.Preparation since the end of the last season in England, meanwhile, has been going really well. We’ve had five winter training camps in Loughborough and we’ve had access to various specialist coaches, which has had a great impact on all of the players.Jack Birkenshaw, the ex-Leicestershire and England bowler, has been really excellent in helping our spinners, Charlotte Russell, Holly Colvin and Rosalie Birch, in particular. But overall also, his experience has been invaluable to all of the girls.Five of our girls are out in Australia at the moment and have been since the start of the Australian season. Isa Guha and Beth Morgan are playing high-level club cricket, while Jenny Gunn also plays state cricket for South Australia, flying over from her Sydney club to do so. It’s great for all of them and we’re trying to encourage as many girls as possible to take the opportunity to play there. It just shows the steps and the progress that the women’s game is taking that we’re able to offer players this chance. We’re really looking forward to meeting up with them when we arrive because, obviously, they haven’t been at our training over the winter.This is a big tour for me (it is my first on Australian soil as captain) but also for the team in preparation for the World Cup in 2009, which is also in Australia. It’s a great opportunity for the girls to impress management and selectors and stake a claim for a place in that team, as well as experience the conditions Down Under.Playing against the top two teams in the women’s game in Australia and New Zealand is the best preparation we can get for that tournament. Also, some of the matches on this tour will be in New South Wales which is where the World Cup will be played.There’s lots of hype surrounding the tour because it’s an Ashes tour, but we don’t want to make too much of that as it is predominantly a one-day tour, and that’s where we need to focus our attention for now.We’re all set and ready to go.

Manchester United urged to snub Adam Wharton & Elliot Anderson in favour of signing USMNT star Tyler Adams to end their transfer search for a new midfielder. Ruben Amorim is desperate to make a quality signing in his engine room, and the club is expected to back him in the winter market to get on board a midfielder.

United's shortlist miss Adams

The Red Devils are expected to back Amorim in the winter market as he looks to stamp his authority on a squad still searching for coherence. United have not been shy in the transfer market over the past decade, investing more than £800 million ($1070m) between 2020 and 2025 and adding a further £219m ($293m) this summer alone. Yet for all that spending, the search for a reliable midfield anchor continues. Casemiro was brought in from midfield, but his future hangs in the balance with his contract set to expire in the summer. 

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba remains a long-term priority, but the south coast club have shut the door on any January negotiations. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is admired Adam Wharton, meanwhile, has impressed at Crystal Palace and harbours ambitions of Champions League football, yet he recently committed his future with a new contract and has not pressed for a move. Each target brings quality, but also complications. Against that backdrop, has suggested United could find a more immediate and tactically suitable solution in Tyler Adams. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaking a case for Tyler Adams

Adams’ numbers this season are striking. Among Premier League midfielders, only Moisés Caicedo has made more interceptions, while the American has also racked up 35 tackles. At Bournemouth, his presence has freed Alex Scott to play higher up the pitch, knowing there is security behind him. 

Adams has increasingly been described as a natural fit for the so-called Makelele role, the deep-lying shield perfected by Claude Makelele and later embodied by players such as Casemiro and Rodri. Rodri’s Ballon d’Or triumph in 2024 was widely seen as overdue recognition of that role’s importance. Similarly, when Luka Modric broke the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly in 2018, he did so with Casemiro working to protect the defence behind him. And Adams understands that responsibility.

"My role in football is not the prettiest role," Adams explained. "I’m not the one going out every weekend like Antoine Semenyo scoring goals and dribbling past players. I want to win and know how to win and know that my role in any team can be invaluable if played right. I’m selfless and want to do the work that other guys want me to do to make them look good."

From Leeds setback to Bournemouth revival

After arriving at Bournemouth from Leeds in 2023, injury curtailed his first season, limiting him to just one start. Adams had come close to joining Chelsea before that move, with the London club hunting for a No.6 before eventually landing Moises Caicedo. Last season marked a turning point. Under Andoni Iraola, Adams became a regular fixture, and that upward trajectory has continued into the current campaign as Bournemouth’s win percentage improves noticeably when the American is in the side. And the midfielder credited Iraola for that resurgence.

"I can’t repay Bournemouth enough for the trust they had in me," he said. "They were signing a player that was injured and didn’t expect when I would be back. I played two or three games in my first season so to get a run of games, I’m just eager to grow and show what I’m capable of doing.

"The manager. The way that he plays, the way he sets up his team every week and the belief he instils in each of us and their role and job in the team. The players really believe it. All the little details we are really focused on. We had a very strong pre-season, it was good having the group healthy going into the pre-season compared to last season where we had injuries and couldn’t find the cohesiveness for a few games. Now you can see the chemistry between the players."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

On Monday night, Adams will walk out at Old Trafford as Bournemouth visit United in the Premier League. It is an opportunity for the United hierarchy to assess, at close quarters, what the USMNT captain brings to the table. With Baleba unavailable, Wharton settled, and Anderson hesitant, the case for Adams is gaining momentum. He may not arrive with the hype of a marquee signing, but could do the job for Amorim. 

Former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino endured a turbulent time during his little over three years at the club and his work in the transfer market could be questioned.

One sale, in particular, that supporters could question the Italian over was Scottish forward Ross McCormack, who left to join Fulham in 2014 and saw his market value soar over his spell in London.

How much did Leeds sign Ross McCormack for?

The Whites reportedly paid a modest fee of £350k to sign the exciting attacker from Cardiff City to bolster their squad in the summer of 2010.

He had produced 30 goals and five assists in 88 competitive matches for the Welsh side and that prompted Leeds to swoop for his services.

How many goals did McCormack score for Leeds?

The former Bluebirds star went on to plunder 58 goals in 157 games for the Yorkshire-based outfit over the course of four years at Elland Road.

McCormack struggled at the top end of the pitch in his first season at the club as he finished the 2010/11 campaign with two goals and one assist in 20 Championship appearances.

However, the Scotland international found the back of the net a whopping 51 times over the next three league seasons combined, along with 29 assists, for the Whites.

His best year in a Leeds shirt, arguably, came during the 2013/14 term as the former Cardiff ace enjoyed a phenomenal year in front of goal for the club.

McCormack was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year for his outstanding performances as he produced a stunning 28 goals and ten assists in 46 league outings. He was directly involved in a goal every 1.21 matches on average, which shows that the talented gem was a constant threat in the final third.

How much was McCormack worth at Leeds?

The prolific forward was valued at €2.6m (£2.2m) by Transfermarkt at the end of that season and Cellino opted to cash in on the attacker as the Italian sold him to Championship rivals Fulham.

Shortly before the deal to sell him to the Cottagers, the ex-Leeds owner put out a club statement that confirmed that he wanted to keep hold of McCormack and that the Whites did not have to accept any offers for his services.

Despite that, the Scottish whiz ended up signing for the London-based outfit for a reported fee within the region of £9m later that summer.

How much was McCormack worth at Fulham?

The "lethal" – as he was dubbed by reporter Andrew Slaven – magician saw his value soar to €8m (£6.9m) via Transfermarkt by the end of his two-year spell with Fulham.

This means that his market value rocketed up by 208% within the space of two years after leaving Elland Road, which also resulted in a staggering £14m transfer to Aston Villa from Craven Cottage in the summer of 2016.

McCormack was a consistent performer for the Cottagers in London as he racked up 42 goals and 22 assists in 100 appearances in all competitions.

The now-37-year-old scored 21 goals and assisted ten in 45 Championship games during his final campaign with the club in the 2015/16 season as he continued to prove himself to be an outstanding forward at that level after his time with Leeds.

Therefore, Cellino and Leeds had a mare with the sale of McCormack in 2014 as they could have cashed in for more money if they stuck to their statement and resisted the temptation to sell him that year.

They could have received a higher fee as his market value continued to soar through his excellent performances on the pitch, which is why the club may look back on this deal with regret.

The 67 runs Muttiah Muralitharan conceded in the first VB Series match against Australia is his second-most expensive figures in ODIs

S Rajesh13-Jan-2006

Muttiah Muralitharan: not a performance to remember © Getty Images
Even through their worst days on the field, Sri Lanka usually have one consolation: a tight ten-over spell by Muttiah Muralitharan, for whom conditions and assistance from the pitch seems to matter little. In the first match of the VB Series against Australia, though, the Sri Lankans didn’t even have Murali’s performance to fall back on. They got thrashed to the tune of 318 runs – which isn’t that unusual in ODIs these days – but far more surprisingly, Murali returned figures of 10-1-67-0.In all the spells he has bowled in his career, only once did he vanish for more runs – against Pakistan at Nairobi more than nine years ago, when he went for 73, but at least managed to pick up two wickets. Here, he wasn’t even allowed that solace, and had it not been for a maiden over in his ninth, his figures would have looked even worse. Not surprisingly, Sri Lanka have lost all these matches – they look well on their way to defeat at Melbourne – and have conceded more than 300 in all but one of these games.

Murali’s most expensive ODI spells

Versus Spell Venue and year Result

Pakistan 10-0-73-2 Nairobi, 1996 Lost by 82 runs Australia 10-1-67-0 Melbourne, 2005-06 ? New Zealand 10-1-62-1 Hamilton, 1995 Lost by 57 runs Pakistan 10-0-61-1 Kimberley, 1998 Lost by 4 wickets India 10-0-60-0 Taunton, 1999 Lost by 157 runsIt’s interesting to note that Murali’s top ten most expensive spells have all come overseas. The worst he performed at home was against Zimbabwe – when they used to be a force to reckon with – in 1998, when he conceded 55 from 10 overs.

Rangers have held talks with a "successful" Frank Lampard alternative in Glasgow this week, as the search for Michael Beale's replacement intensifies.

Who could replace Michael Beale at Rangers?

After a poor start to the Scottish Premiership campaign, one which has seen the squad booed off on multiple occasions, Rangers made a big decision to relieve Beale of his duties after just 10 months in charge following the previous sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The Glasgow giants are seven points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic already, with their title hopes in some doubt as a result. Beale was brought in from QPR to succeed Giovanni van Bronckhorst midway through last term, but it's now back to the drawing board for Rangers as they scour the market for another new manager in the space of a year.

Losing three out of a possible seven games was, quite frankly, unacceptable for one of Scotland's biggest clubs, and their Europa League group campaign took a bit of knock following their 2-1 loss to Cypriot first division side Aris Limassol in midweek. There have been many names mentioned by sections of the media as candidates to replace Beale, with reports suggesting Rangers have been considering the likes of Frank Lampard, Oliver Glasner and Kevin Muscat for the manager's job.

Initial talks were apparently held with Lampard over the vacant Rangers role, but reliable media sources have claimed that he is now out of the running to succeed Beale at Ibrox. However, the likes of Muscat and former AS Monaco boss Philippe Clement could still be hired by Rangers.

Will Rangers appoint Philippe Clement?

The latter coach, who has been praised for some of his successes in past seasons, has won four Belgian league titles across spells at Club Brugge and Genk. Clement would come as quite the decorated appointment, at least from Belgium, with Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell once calling him "one of the most prominent and successful coaches in Europe in recent years."

Jupiler Pro League

4

Belgian Super Cup

2

Belgian Cup

1

"His profile as a modern coach, with his teams playing with great intensity and [is] daring, including on the continental stage," claimed Mitchell.

"His ability to combine titles and the development of young players have made him one of the most prominent and successful coaches in Europe in recent years."

A report from Voetbal Nieuws has shared an update on the prospect of his hire at Rangers, with Clement travelling to Glasgow this week for a meeting with Gers chiefs. The 49-year-old is apparently seen as a "great candidate" for the job, with both Clement and Rangers putting forward their visions for success during this apparent sit-down. However, it is by no means a done deal just yet, as clubs from Saudi Arabia are also after Clement. While the coach will have to convince Rangers he is the right man, Voetbal Nieuws claims the feeling is mutual on Clement's side.

If Rangers were to decide he is the top target, you can fully understand why.

Nathan Astle’s career in numbers

S Rajesh26-Jan-2007

Nathan Astle: one of the few New Zealand batsmen who coped with the Australian attack © Getty Images
A career which began 12 years ago finally wound to an end when Nathan Astle announced that he had lost motivation and had had enough of international cricket. Equally adept at both Test cricket and ODIs, Astle amassed a total of 11,792 international runs, including 27 hundreds, to rank among the most prolific batsmen for New Zealand. (Click here for a list of New Zealand’s highest run-scorers in Tests, and here for their leading ODI run-getters.) And while he only bowled at medium pace, he was an especially handy ODI bowler, finishing just one wicket short of 100His Test average of 37.02 is a relatively modest one in today’s age when so many batsmen have been topping the 50 mark, but Astle was more successful than most against the best side in the world – he averaged 38.75 against Australia, a rare instance of a batsman being more prolific against the Aussies than against the others. In fact, among New Zealand batsmen who played at least ten Tests against them, Astle is fourth in the chart. To put his numbers in perspective, take a look at what Stephen Fleming has managed against them – in 14 Tests, Fleming has only scored 680 runs at an average of 25.18.

Best batsmen for New Zealand in Tests versus Australia (Qual: 10 Tests)

Batsman Tests Runs Average 100s/ 50s

Martin Crowe 17 1255 48.26 3/ 6 Andrew Jones 10 808 42.52 2/ 2 Ken Rutherford 11 677 39.82 1/ 6 Nathan Astle 14 930 38.75 1/ 5 John Wright 19 1277 38.69 2/ 4 Adam Parore 10 534 38.14 1/ 1 Numbers don’t tell the entire story about Astle, but the one record that stands in his name is a fitting one and encapsulates the way he approached the game: at Christchurch against England in 2002, with New Zealand seemingly dead and buried in the game, Astle walked out and smashed a double-century in a record 153 balls, eventually falling for 222 off 168 and taking New Zealand to within 98 of their target of 550.As Astle’s career summary shows, he had some problems against some of the other sides – including Bangladesh – but the one bowling attack that gave him nightmares was Pakistan. In seven innings against them, he entered double-digits just once, and averaged a miserable 3.14, less than half of what Danny Morrison managed against them.Surprisingly for such an attacking batsman, his big knocks often didn’t win the game for his team; it only helped them draw matches. In victories Astle averaged only 34, while in stalemates that number went up to 54.

Astle as a Test batsman

Tests Runs Average 100s/ 50s

In victories 27 1239 34.41 2/ 8 In draws 26 1892 54.05 7/ 8 In defeats 28 1571 28.05 2/ 8 As a one-day batsman, though, Astle was a definite matchwinner – 14 of his 16 hundreds were in winning causes, and he averaged an impressive 54.53 in those games. When New Zealand lost, though, he only averaged 22.

Astle as an ODI batsman

ODIs Runs Average 100s/ 50s

In victories 92 4254 54.53 14/ 26 In ties 3 105 35.00 0/ 1 In no-results 12 168 28.00 0/ 1 In defeats 116 2563 22.09 2/ 13 Astle’s form in Tests noticeably dipped in 2006 – he only scored 316 in 13 innings – but as a one-day player he remained a force, averaging nearly 59 from 12 matches. Unfortunately for him, even the ODI runs dried up in January 2007 – from six innings he made just 46 runs, with three ducks.Astle’s decision to quit the game just six months before the World Cup also means he won’t get another opportunity to correct what are decidedly modest stats in the biggest cricket tournament in the world. Astle made his World Cup debut in auspicious manner, scoring 101 against England in the 1996 edition, but only once more did he reach three figures in 21 further World Cup innings. He ended the 2003 campaign with successive ducks to finish with a World Cup average of 20.15, which, like his other career numbers, do scant justice to his capabilities as a batsman.

Liverpool attacking duo Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez will miss Wednesday's fixture against Luton, days before the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.

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Reds concerned about attacking pairBoth miss Luton clash as Carabao Cup final precautionNine others already ruled out by KloppWHAT HAPPENED?

The Reds are gearing up for a tough week with games against Luton in the Premier League and the cup decider against Chelsea on Sunday. However, reports that both will be absent from Wednesday's Premier League clash at home to Luton, leaving Jurgen Klopp with an incredible 11 first-team absentees.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Salah came back from a hamstring injury to score in the 4-1 win against Brentford on Saturday – his first Liverpool appearance since January 1. However, the Egypt international is dealing with muscle fatigue. Nunez, who was taken off at half-time as a precaution, is also suffering from a muscle issue. It is believed that both have been ruled out of the Luton clash so as not to be risked ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup showdown.

WHAT KLOPP SAID

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp told reporters on Tuesday: "There is no game where you can say, ‘Let’s have a look at how the others play at the weekend and if we lose it might be alright’. We cannot see it like that, for us it is game by game who is available and then use them in the best possible way. There is no other chance. If he [Nunez] was fully fit there is no reason to keep him out and no chance for us. That is it. How we said, we go day by day."

And Klopp explained Salah and Nunez's absence for the Luton game ahead of the clash at Anfield, telling : "They couldn’t have played tonight. From here we will see who will be back for Sunday but that is not important at the moment.”

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DID YOU KNOW?

Liverpool are already without nine other first-team players for the upcoming final. Diogo Jota will be out for "months" with his latest injury, while Curtis Jones faces a long period on the sidelines with an ankle problem. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai are also out. They join longer-term absentees Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak and Joel Matip.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are open to strengthening in the January window and have now initiated contact with a player who could be tempted by the prospect of a move to the Premier League, according to a report.

Wolverhampton Wanderers look for financially advantageous deals…

Undoubtedly, Wolves have had to navigate choppy waters over the last six months or so, owing to issues with Financial Fair Play, which they will be keen to avoid encountering in the January window under Gary O'Neil.

According to The Telegraph, the Old Gold will eye a net-zero transfer window and loan signings will become a priority at Molineux as O'Neil's men look to be financially prudent in the market. Bringing in a striker and a winger is on the agenda in the West Midlands as they look to avoid the pitfalls of recent times regarding wasteful expenditure.

Sky Sports claims Pedro Neto expecting to leave Wolves next season

Gary O’Neil has learned the intentions of this season’s star player.

ByDavid Comerford Jan 6, 2024

West Ham United striker Danny Ings has become a name of interest to Wolves after falling out of favour at the London Stadium. Fabio Silva and Sasa Kalajdzic have left a void needing to be filled in the final third and the former England international is admired by the Old Gold.

Liverpool attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho is also on Wolves' radar following his return from a temporary spell in the Bundesliga at RB Leipzig; however, any decision the Reds take to loan him out once again will be dependent on available first-team opportunities for the 21-year-old. Now, an alternative target has come to light for Wolves as they aim to bolster their forward line this month, according to a fresh report.

Wolves accelerate Hugo Ekitike pursuit…

According to reports in France via Sport Witness, Wolves are accelerating in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain forward Hugo Ekitike, who would be available either permanently or on loan this month. The outlet claim that the Old Gold have now contacted the player and his entourage to discuss a potential move.

Five similar players to Hugo Ekitike (FBRef)

Player

Club

Matheus Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Cody Gakpo

Liverpool

Joshua Zirkzee

Bologna

Federico Chiesa

Juventus

Mikel Oyarzabal

Real Sociedad

Despite this, his wage is believed to be the main stumbling block to any potential switch and the Reims-born man would need to make concessions to make an exit from the Parc des Princes possible, though he could be tempted by the prospect of plying his trade in the Premier League.

Frozen out at his current club, France Under-21 international Ekitike, who has previously been labelled "very special" by former boss Oscar Garcia cited via Chronicle Live, has made just one substitute appearance in Ligue 1 this campaign.

Ekitike has netted four goals and laid on four assists in 33 appearances for the Parisian giants all in; however, Wolves clearly see him as someone who could discover his best form at Molineux (Ekitike statistics – Transfermarkt).

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has opened up on the possibilities of him replacing Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss next season.

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Frank tipped to replace Klopp at LiverpoolOpened up about joining Liverpool next seasonBrentford currently 14th in the Premier LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?

Several top managers, including Xabi Alonso and Frank, have been linked with the job at Liverpool ever since Klopp made it public that he would leave the Merseyside club at the end of the ongoing season.

Now the Brentford boss has finally addressed the rumours of him potentially taking charge of the Reds as he stated that he is happy to continue with the London club for the long term.

AdvertisementWHAT THOMAS FRANK SAID

Speaking to Sky Sports, Frank said, "There’s a lot of rumours out there. I think we all have kind of an ego and the ego likes that little bit of sugar but at the end of the day, I’m at Brentford. I’m very happy here.

"Do I have ambitions? Yes. Am I going to stay at Brentford forever? Maybe but probably not. So who knows what’s going to happen in the future? What I know is that I’m here at Brentford and I’m very happy with it."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While The Bees head coach might have made it to Liverpool's shortlist, Bayer Leverkusen's Alonso remains favourite to take charge of the club next summer. Under Alonso's tutelage, the German club has performed exceptionally well this season. They are currently unbeaten in the Bundesliga and have a healthy five-point lead at the top of the table.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THOMAS FRANK?

The 50-year-old for now remains focused on his club, who currently find themselves 14th in the Premier League. They will be next seen in action on Saturday against league leaders Liverpool.