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      I’m a Premier League winner who scored hat-trick on debut… now I’m unemployed aged just 28

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      SCORING a hat-trick on debut for your boyhood club is the stuff of dreams.And that was just the start of a memorable season that saw Leicester City, somehow and miraculously, win the Premier League.
      Joe Dodoo scored a hat-trick against Bury on his Leicester debutCredit: Getty
      The forward is on the hunt for a new club aged 28Credit: Instagram @joedodoo14
      But while the Foxes have slipped into the Championship, Joe Dodoo’s career has fizzled into obscurity.
      Now he now finds himself unemployed without a club and training alone in a local park aged just 28.
      Dodoo was born in Ghana and moved to England when he was eight.
      Five years later he joined Leicester’s academy, progressing through the youth ranks until he got the nod from Claudio Ranieri for their League Cup second-round tie away at Bury.
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      Dodoo started on the right-wing – with N’Golo Kante on the left – behind a two-man attack of Andrej Kramaric and Leonardo Ulloa at Gigg Lane.
      And the then-20-year-old repaid Ranieri’s faith in handing him his first match in senior football, blasting into the top corner on 25 minutes.
      Dodoo then set up Kramaric to make it 2-0 before half-time and added two late goals of his own in the closing minutes to seal a 4-1 win and secure his treble.
      Dodoo said: “You had to be outstanding at Leicester to get your opportunity. I was doing well every year for the academy and the Under-23s, but it wasn’t anywhere near enough until Ranieri came.
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      “I was waiting for my chance. I grew up around Jeff Schlupp and Liam Moore and aged 14 I was playing with them, although they were a lot bigger and older than me.
      “I had trained with the first team and that made me ready for it. When the opportunity came, I knew exactly what to do. I think having good players around you helps as well.
      “N’Golo and I made our debuts together in that cup game. He played on the left-hand side that night and I thought he was a winger. I didn’t know he was a central midfielder at first.
      “There were some really good players in the side that day. The reason why I said I wasn’t nervous at all and why I expected to do well was because I looked in the changing room. I looked at the players I was about to play with and I thought, ‘This just can’t go wrong here’.
      “When you have these senior pros around you and they have such standards it is difficult for it to go wrong.”
      Dodoo came through the Leicester academy with Jeffrey SchluppCredit: Getty
      The youngster also set up Andrej Kramaric in the 4-1 win at Gigg LaneCredit: Getty
      Dodoo also got on the scoresheet against West Ham in the third roundCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Four days later, the one-cap England U18 international forward came off the bench to replace Marc Albrighton in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth to make his one and only Premier League appearance. 
      And he backed up his League Cup hat-trick with a goal in the next round as Leicester beat West Ham 2-1 after extra-time. 
      But unlikely to get many more minutes ahead of the likes of Albrighton, Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy during City’s incredible march to the title, Dodoo actually joined Bury on a one-month loan.
      However, Dodoo returned to the King Power in December 2015 – but did not get another appearance as the club defied 5,000-1 odds to win the Premier League by ten points.
      At the end of the season, though, Dodoo left Leicester and signed a four-year contract with Rangers.
      The Scottish giants paid a £250,000 development fee and the attacker made an immediate impact with a goal on his debut three days after joining Gers. 
      JOE THE JOURNEYMAN
      He managed five goals in 27 appearances and had loans with Charlton and Blackpool before signing on a permanent deal with Bolton in 2019.
      Dodoo had a brief stint in Turkey at Ankara Keciorengucu then headed back to League One with Wigan.
      He joined Doncaster for the 2021-22 season, scoring eight goals in 39 games, and spent part of last season with Burton.
      However, after failing to score in 11 appearances for the Brewers, he was let go in January and remains without a club. 
      Dodoo is keeping himself fit and working hard by training alone, desperate to resurrect his football career. 
      Speaking to The Athletic in the summer, the ex-Leicester man said: “There are opportunities. I am just waiting to see what is the best fit for me and the way I play, and the right environment for me.
      “I just need to polish up on a few things. I have had a pretty solid career so far. It’s been good. There has been a lot of adversity, a lot of issues. Covid-19 was a big problem for me as I was due to come back to a pretty good level and that messed up a lot of things.
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      “It’s been really up and down, but I’ve been really happy with the way I dealt with it and how I’ve been on the pitch because it’s been really good still in terms of my contribution on the pitch.
      “I am just looking to move forward now.”
      Dodoo played in the Old Firm Derby in Scotland during his spell at RangersCredit: Keith Campbell – The Sun Glasgow
      He spent the 2021-22 season with Doncaster then went to BurtonCredit: Getty
      Dodoo is now training alone in a local park to keep himself sharpCredit: Instagram @joedodoo14 More

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      Awkward moment football fan falls asleep during match before being woken up by rival supporters singing about him

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      A WEST Brom fan who FELL ASLEEP during his side’s clash with Southampton was woken up after opposition fans teased him with hilarious chanting.The Baggies were beaten 2-1 by Saints at St Mary’s in the Championship on Saturday afternoon – their first defeat in five games.
      The West Brom fan, at the end of the row in a grey beanie hat, was caught asleep in the away end by Southampton supportersCredit: X @MenInBlazers

      He woke up after the home fans began mocking him with a hilarious chantCredit: X @MenInBlazers
      And one away fan failed to keep himself awake for the entirety of the game as he nodded off mid-match.
      A section of Southampton supporters noticed the gentleman was having a kip in his seat.
      And they proceeded to loudly sing: “He’s still asleep,” over and over again.
      Eventually, the man woke up much to the home fans delight as they cheered him opening his eyes.
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      They then began chanting: “He’s woken up.”
      The clip went viral on social media, exceeding two million views on Twitter.
      England legend Gary Lineker was one person who reacted to the brilliant clip as he simply replied with two laughing emojis.
      Meanwhile, another fan added: “This is gold, I was there today 🤣🤣.”
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      While someone else said: “Classic 🤣🤣🤣🤣.”
      And a third responded: “Best leagues with the best chants. 😅🙌🏻”
      Southampton have gone on an eight-match unbeaten run which leaves them fourth in the Championship table.
      West Brom sit seventh, outside the play-off places on goal difference. More

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      Fans praise Jobe Bellingham for reaction after scoring against old club as he piles yet more misery on Wayne Rooney

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      JOBE BELLINGHAM received plenty of praise for refusing to celebrate after scoring against old club Birmingham City.The now Sunderland midfielder, 18, left his boyhood team for the Black Cats around the same time his brother Jude, 20, sealed his dream transfer to Real Madrid from Dortmund.
      Jobe Bellingham scored for Sunderland against his former team BirminghamCredit: Reuters
      Brum supporters praised their old star after he refused to celebrate the strikeCredit: Rex

      Today he came up against his and his elder sibling’s ex-team for the very first time as Wayne Rooney took Brum up to the Stadium of Light.
      And the inevitable happened when the midfielder broke the deadlock for Sunderland in the Championship showdown.
      A corner was whipped into the box in the 17th minute and was flicked on into the path of Jobe.
      He clinically stabbed home from close-range before turning away to seemingly go and celebrate as his team-mates raced around him.

      However, even though a wry smile appeared on his face, he remained subdued as the rest of Sunderland’s players embraced him.
      The Sky Sports commentator covering the game declared it as a “you know who” moment – but most viewers were pleased to see Jobe’s reaction to scoring against his old employers.
      “Pain, glad he didn’t celebrate too much,” responded one Birmingham fan.
      Another said: “Fair play Jobe not celebrating.”
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      A fellow Brum supporter said: “Respect Jobe for not celebrating, shows respect for his boyhood club.”
      As another added: “Fair play Jobe not celebrating.”
      Midfielder Jobe came up through Birmingham’s youth system before making 26 senior appearances.
      Brother Jude similarly became a club legend at the age of 17 before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020.
      He won the German cup in 2021 and went on to play 132 times in Germany, scoring 24 and emerging as an England star before joining Madrid.
      Jude Bellingham is now starring for Real Madrid after his mega summer transferCredit: Alamy More

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      Barcelona ‘lining up shock free transfer’ raid on the Championship with boss Xavi keen on Leicester star

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      BARCELONA are lining up a shock swoop for Wilfred Ndidi, according to reports. The 26-year-old currently plays for Leicester in the Championship.
      Wilfred Ndidi is being eyed by a number of top European sidesCredit: Getty
      Barcelona boss Xavi is said to be keen on a cheap deal for the midfielderCredit: Getty
      The midfielder’s contract with the Foxes expires next summer.
      And this could prompt financially-troubled Barcelona into making a move either in January or in the free agency market in the summer.
      According to Sport, the Spanish giants interest is not new either.
      In previous years there is said to have been an approach to sign the Nigerian with a price of £61million being quoted.
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      Ndidi was unable to secure a move away from England’s second tier over the summer, with Leicester reportedly wanting £20m to sell.
      That being said, the LaLiga outfit are not the only club interested in signing him, with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Atletico Madrid also in the running.
      He joined from Belgian side Genk in January 2017 for a reported fee of £15m.
      Ndidi was a member of Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes team who won the FA Cup in 2021, playing the full duration of the 1-0 win over Chelsea.
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      He also featured four times in Leicester’s Champions League campaign the season after they won the title.
      After a drop in form and injury issues during Leicester’s drop down the Premier League table before their eventual relegation, Ndidi has been a key component of Enzo Maresca’s side that sit top of the Championship.
      Ndidi has been sidelined since last month after picking up a muscle injury over the international break.
      Maresca has utilised him in a new role this season, though the manager has admitted he is unsure whether Ndidi is happy with this role.

      He said last month: “I don’t know if he’s more or less happy but the only thing I can say is that he’s very happy.
      “He’s enjoying it, and he’s open-minded. He’s trying to learn something new and he’s making the effort to try to understand it and learn.
      “He’s doing very well at arriving in the box. He’s doing not so good at staying in position and moving in the right way in the pocket.
      “Most of the time he’s higher, close to the opposition central defender and sometimes he has to drop a little bit more.
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      “But as I said, it’s new for him and it’s not easy. But for sure he’s always in the box.”
      In all, Ndidi has made 252 appearances for Leicester, scoring 14 goals and adding 16 assists. More

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      ‘You need to appease clubs’ – Scots Fifa referee who moved to England stunned whistlers turn ‘blind eye’ to simulation

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      BOBBY MADDEN has lifted the lid on the power English clubs hold over referees.The former Fifa whistler retired in the summer after a season taking charge of games down south.
      Bobby Madden quit the game in Scotland to go and further his career in EnglandCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      Madden had achieved all he’d set out to as an official in Scotland and wanted a fresh challenge in EFL League One.
      But he hung up his whistle for several reasons, including being stunned at how the observer marking system is weighted in the clubs’ favour.
      Madden, 45, said: “There were challenges and a different mentality in how they manage situations from an FA and PGMOL point of view.
      “The clubs pay them, so they have control over officials.

      “One of the frustrations which didn’t affect me directly is the clubs have 40 per cent of the mark that’s given to a referee.
      “Essentially you need to appease the clubs to get on, so anyone going into that system needs to referee with that in mind.
      “It’s difficult when you’ve refereed to a level with an observer system then you have a club system like that. It’s difficult for the referees.
      “There were good referees in League One and Two, but would they turn a blind eye to obvious simulation or clear dissent or foul or abusive language? I saw it happen.
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      “I think that’s one of the challenges they have.
      “Each club has 20 per cent of their mark.
      “In Scotland it’s one observer and you receive one mark and it’s the same with Uefa.
      “In England the assessor only has 20 per cent. They also go to a panel and review it, so it was a new system.
      “The clubs and players and managers know they are marking you.
      “I’ve heard comments like, ‘Just remember who’s marking you’. The clubs know they have that power.
      “It’s a challenging environment for referees coming through.
      “I didn’t change my tactics, though. I just managed games the way I always have.
      “I was probably known for not showing that many yellow cards and I tried to follow that, but it’s probably a more difficult arena to do that in.”
      Madden was also disappointed by the quality of the game down south, despite its bold claims, and the lack of respect shown by players towards officials compared to Scotland.
      He said: “In England the football and the teams are very well organised. The surfaces and facilities are good.
      “But I was disappointed with the football.
      “League One there compares to the bottom three or four in our Premiership and League Two compares to the Championship.
      “But England are very good at marketing their leagues, so people believe it’s high level.
      “Of course it’s very well organised, but the level of football probably wasn’t what I expected.
      “I was still fortunate to referee some decent games in League One.
      “In Scotland teams play against each other four times a season or whatever, so there’s a lot of repetition and it’s the same with referees.
      “You’ll referee each team five or six times a year. Take that over ten years and you are in a lot of contact with the same people so you build up a relationship.
      “They might not agree with your decisions and players will use foul language and I’ll use the same type back.
      “In England that level of respect isn’t there because of their approach, but it was maybe because I was a new face that they didn’t know.
      “They’re also in that arena where they’re very well paid, they have a fantastic environment and there’s maybe a degree of entitlement.
      “I did find a lot of players difficult to deal with and they didn’t like to be challenged.
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      “In Scotland I liked the banter and to give a bit back and have that relationship.”
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      EFL confirm Anthony Taylor made WRONG decision after being demoted… but he’ll still referee Chelsea vs Man City

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      REFEREE Anthony Taylor was wrong to award Preston North End a penalty against Coventry City after being dropped down to Championship games, the EFL confirms.After being demoted from top-flight English football for a mistake in Newcastle’s game with Wolves, Taylor is set to return for the Chelsea v Manchester City game on Sunday.
      EFL confirm Anthony Taylor made the wrong decision in the Coventry City vs Preston North End clashCredit: AFP
      Despite making the wrong call Taylor is set to referee Chelsea vs Manchester City on SundayCredit: Getty
      However, it has now emerged that Taylor made a mistake when he refereed Preston North End’s 3-2 win over Coventry City on Saturday.
      This was the first time in four years he had officiated in the second tier and was involved in a controversial spot-kick decision.
      The 45-year-old ruled that Kyle McFadzean had brought down Milutin Osmajic in the area, but replays showed the Sky Blues captain had made little contact.
      After reviewing the officials’ decisions, the EFL has announced that the penalty should not have been given.
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      Coventry boss Mark Robins spoke on the injustice they faced against Preston.
      Robins said: “Now once or twice we have had decisions that have gone against us and again, we had one go against us with the penalty at Preston.
      “We have had confirmation that it wasn’t a penalty but there’s still a bit of ambiguity around that.
      “So we need to do a little bit more digging on that to get clarity on the decision they have made.”
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      And fans even deemed Taylor should be “demoted to League 1 next weekend” after his dismal performance.
      Taylor was forced to referee Championship football last weekend after giving Newcastle a controversial penalty in their 2-2 draw with Wolves.
      The English official deemed Hwang Hee-chan to have fouled Fabian Schar but replays of the incident showed minimal contact.
      But it has been announced he will make his comeback to the Premier League this weekend as Chelsea, who sit tenth in the league, host leaders City. More

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      Forgotten one-cap England international became Inter Miami coach but missed working with Messi to join Championship side

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      A FORMER England international missed out on working with Lionel Messi after returning to the Championship.The one-cap Three Lions star had been coaching Inter Miami II after hanging up his boots in 2022.
      Lionel Messi missed out on playing with a forgotten England star at Inter MiamiCredit: Reuters
      Ryan Shawcross’ only England cap came against Sweden in 2012Credit: PA
      However, he had left the club by the time Messi headed stateside this summer.
      The World Cup winner has scored 11 goals in 14 appearances for Miami since then, claiming the golden boot as his side lifted the Leagues Cup.
      He could have worked with a Manchester United academy graduate had he made the move a year earlier, though.
      The ex-England defender in question is Stoke legend Ryan Shawcross.
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      His one and only senior international cap came in a friendly defeat to Sweden in November 2012.
      Despite failing to return to the England fold, Shawcross went on to make over 300 Premier League appearances for Stoke.
      He retired aged 34 at the start of 2022 following 11 months playing for Miami.
      Shawcross remained in Florida, working as an assistant manager for the club’s reserve side as he launched his coaching career.
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      Shawcross ended his career with Inter Miami before spending a year on their coaching staffCredit: Getty
      Come Messi’s arrival, though, he had already returned to England after leaving the MLS club at the end of last year.
      He is now back with Stoke, serving as assistant manager for the Potters’ under-18 side.
      During his playing days with the Championship outfit, Shawcross made 453 appearances.
      The defender was also the club’s captain for 11 years as well as winning promotion to the Premier League and appearing in their 2011/12 Europa League campaign. More

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      My dad is a Premier League cult hero and we both scored iconic goals at Wembley – now I’m making my own way

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      NOT many father-and-son combos can say they have scored game-changing play-off final goals.And not too many would say that their old man scored the better one – but Josh Windass admits his dad Dean’s Wembley winner was superior.
      Dean Windass’ Wembley volley sent Hull City to the Premier League in 2008Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Josh emulated his Dad’s Wembley heroics 15 years laterCredit: Rex
      Windass Jr, 29, scored the only goal in last season’s League One play-off final for Sheffield Wednesday to seal promotion to the Championship.
      The attacking midfielder nodded Lee Gregory’s cross home as the final looked set to go to penalties against Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.
      The goal came 15 years after his father Dean scored an iconic volley as Hull beat Bristol City to confirm their promotion to the Premier League in 2008.
      Dean then became Hull City’s oldest ever goalscorer and the second oldest scorer in the history of the Premier League when he scored against Portsmouth aged 39.
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      When Josh spoke about the fact that he and his Dad had both scored crucial goals in play-off finals, he admitted to Sky Sports that Windass Sr “scored a better goal”.
      When he was asked about his Dad’s reaction to his son’s Wembley winner, with Dean watching from the stands, Josh said: “I don’t know, he’ll probably be five Jager bombs deep so I don’t know if he’ll say much.”
      When Dean spoke to The Daily Mail after the game he quipped: “I wasn’t actually because I don’t drink jagerbombs, so he obviously doesn’t know his old man, does he?”
      But he also spoke of how he was bursting with pride at son Josh’s achievement and said: “I can’t stop crying, man.
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      “I thought my crying days were over after 2008 and then he’s just gone and done it to me again. It’s just so emotional.”
      He added: “His goal was better than my volley because it was the last kick of the game. He will cause me a heart attack, the b******!”
      Wednesday have found it tough in the Championship, however.
      Darren Moore was sacked before the Owls even kicked a ball and his replacement, Xisco Munoz, was sacked last month after a disastrous start to the season that left the club bottom of the league.
      There’s also been off-field issues relating to Dejphon Chansiri with concerns as to whether staff were going to be paid on time.
      Windass has been in and out of the team this season as Wednesday look to stay in the second tier.
      He’s played ten times this season with the club still bottom on nine points after 15 games. More