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    Former Premier League winners labelled ’embarrassing’ as THREE transfers in a year fall through due to admin errors

    BLACKBURN fans have slammed the club after their THIRD transfer within a year fell through due to admin blunders.The Championship side did business late in the window as they sold star man Adam Wharton to Crystal Palace on Deadline Day for £22million.
    Duncan McGuire is now in limbo as he waits to find out if his move to Blackburn gets ratifiedCredit: Getty
    They were then ready to sign Orlando City striker Duncan McGuire on loan until the end of the season.
    But the deal was not completed before the window slammed shut as the correct documents were not submitted in time.
    McGuire, 22, flew across the Atlantic to sign for Blackburn – but he is now in limbo as the club launches an appeal.
    A Rovers statement explained the situation and what could be in store next for the player.
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    It read: “Duncan McGuire’s proposed loan move to Blackburn from MLS side Orlando City has not been approved by the EFL to date due to the registration documents being submitted after the 11pm transfer deadline.
    “All of the necessary signed paperwork had been completed prior to 10pm on Thursday February 1st, however due to an administrative error, the forms were not processed within the prescribed time.
    “Detailed discussions with legal representatives and the relevant football authorities have taken place over the past few days to try to reach an urgent and positive resolution to the matter.
    “The club’s lawyers have prepared the required papers and sent to the EFL Board, who will consider the case on Thursday February 8th. 
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    “Orlando City have allowed McGuire to remain in the UK, pending the EFL Board’s decision.
    “He will return to the United States, where he will re-join his club ahead of the start of the 2024 MLS season, should his registration not be approved.
    Crystal Palace seal £22.5m Adam Wharton transfer as he leaves Blackburn on deadline day
    “Should the appeal be refused then Blackburn will attempt to reach a pre-contract agreement with Orlando City over the coming weeks to enable the player to officially join the club on a permanent basis when the 2024 summer transfer window opens.”
    This is not the first time Blackburn have made an error when submitting the relevant transfer paperwork.
    In January last year, forms to green light the signings of Lewis O’Brien from Nottingham Forest and Ethan Brierley from Rochdale were both not handed in before the deadline.
    An appeal was then rejected by the EFL.
    O’Brien was instead loaned out to DC United as their transfer window was still open and he never played for Blackburn.
    As for Brierley, he also never pulled on the Rovers shirt and instead returned to Rochdale as their was still a place in the squad for him.
    After Blackburn made the same mistake this year with McGuire, fans have hit out at club chiefs.
    One said: “Absolutely embarrassing.”
    Another added: “Whoever is responsible needs sacking. Plain and simple.”
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    A third raged: “Honestly the worst run club in England – you all should be ashamed of yourselves.”
    The 1994–95 Premier League winners currently sit 18th in the Championship.
    Lewis O’Brien saw his move to Blackburn fall through due to an admin issue last yearCredit: Getty More

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    Former Premier League star wakes up unemployed after RIPPING UP Stoke contract

    DWIGHT GAYLE has left Stoke and is currently a free agent.That is according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, who reports Gayle, 34, has terminated his contract with the Potters.
    Dwight Gayle has terminated his contract with StokeCredit: Alamy
    Gayle has struggled for minutes this season with StokeCredit: Getty
    The striker joined the Championship club in 2022 and is leaving with three goals and six assists in 50 appearances under his belt.
    The Walthamstow star fell down the pecking order this season and only managed a mere one assist in 14 appearances.
    Gayle burst onto the scene in 2013 when he became Crystal Palace’s record signing for £4.5million having impressed with Peterborough.
    The centre-forward went on to amass a total of 25 goals and three assists in 74 appearances during his three-year stint at Palace.
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    That led to a move to Newcastle, who saw him as the club’s next big star during a trying time.
    Gayle moved to St James’ Park for £10m and helped fire the Magpies back to the Premier League with a stellar return of 23 goals in 32 games in the Championship.
    But he couldn’t hold down a place or find consistent form in the Prem for the Toon.
    And so he was loaned out to West Brom for the 2018-19 season and was top goalscorer during their run to the play-offs.
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    Gayle managed a total of 24 goals and eight assists in 41 appearances for the Baggies.
    After three more unspectacular seasons on Tyneside he returned to the Championship with Stoke in 2022.
    The Biggest January Flop Signings In Premier League History
    Gayle could entice both Rangers and Celtic but he would still likely command a fair wage. More

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    When is Sunderland ‘Til I Die season 3 released? All the details you need ahead of final season of Netflix documentary

    SUNDERLAND ‘Til I Die will return for its third and final season on Netflix next week.The debut series followed the Black Cat’s relegation from the Championship to League One and gained many fans from the footballing world.
    The third and final series of Sunderland ‘Til I Die will cover the Black Cat’s promotion back to the ChampionshipCredit: GETTY
    In the following season, the cameras covered Sunderland’s first season back in the third tier in 2018/19, which ended in play-off heartbreak.
    The third and final series will capture the Black Cat’s return to the Championship under former manager Alex Neil and the arrival of the new owners.
    Fans have waited since 2022 for the series to be aired on Netflix, but that wait is almost over.
    When is Sunderland ‘Til I Die season 3 released?

    Sunderland ‘Til I Die season 3 will be released on Tuesday, February 13th.
    The final season will consist of just two episodes.

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    What TV channel is Sunderland ‘Til I Die on and can it be live streamed?

    Sunderland ‘Til I Die season 3 will be available to watch on Netflix.
    You can download the Netflix app for FREE onto your mobile or tablet device.
    If you are not currently a Netflix customer, prices range from £4.99 to £17.99 per month.

    What has been said?
    Ben Turner and Leo Pearlman are lifelong Sunderland fans and the makers of Sunderland ‘Til I Die.
    On the third and final season, Pearlman said in 2022: “This time we are purely focussing on the play-off win from last season.
    “There will be two episodes that look at the incredible finale to the season with the play-off semi-finals and the play-off win against Wycombe at Wembley.
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    “We are ending Sunderland Til I Die on a high.” More

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    I’m a former Premier League star now playing for Gary Neville’s team at 37 thanks to huge change to my diet

    ADRIAN MARIAPPA is still marshalling defences at the ripe old age of 37.The centre-back made his professional debut as a fresh-faced teenager 19 years ago after rising through the ranks at Watford.
    Adrian Mariappa made his professional debut back in 2005 while he was at WatfordCredit: REUTERS
    The centre-back is still going strong at the age of 37Credit: GETTY
    Mariappa would spend the next 16 seasons playing in the Premier League and The Championship during his two stints with the Bees and spells with Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Reading.
    The Jamaica international is still going strong in League Two with Salford United, much to the surprise of many.
    And Mariappa attributes his longevity to his vegan diet, which he adopted nearly seven years ago and has helped alleviate his tendonitis.
    He told The Mirror: “I felt it had a big impact on inflammation, especially on my tendons.
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    “I had tendonitis on my knees and that cleared up – I don’t have it anymore.
    “That was the catalyst to cutting out pretty much all animal products from my diet and it’s something I’ve stuck to ever since.”
    Mariappa doesn’t know if his change in diet is the sole reason why’ he’s able to play deep into his thirties, although he’s only missed THREE matches through injury since ditching animal-based products.
    He said: “You don’t know what would have happened if I had stayed on my previous diet, but since that time I’ve missed three games through injury.
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    Adrian Mariappa attributes his longevity to his vegan dietCredit: GETTY
    “I’m obviously over 30 and I’m playing in League Two now, where I am probably running more than I ever have in my career.
    “I’m still hitting top speeds of 34.5kph – they’re good numbers for any centre-half, especially one at my age.
    “I’m able to put myself through training every day and be available. I always wanted to play as long as I can and it’s tied in nicely.
    “A common misconception of going plant-based is that it will affect your performance.
    “If I felt it had, I probably would have reversed my decision. But so far I’ve been thriving on it and it’s just part of my lifestyle now.”
    Getting his hands on nutrient-dense and tasty vegan food is a lot easier now than it was when Mariappa initially adopted the lifestyle.
    He said: “I think society has changed and become a bit more open-minded.“There are a lot more options.
    “Society has shifted and I’ve never had any troubles or dramas with that sort of thing.
    “Lots of footballers follow different diets now and the clubs will want to maximise how the player feels and what is best for them, so more often than not they are willing to cater to them because everyone is different.
    “When I first decided to make the decision, I got quite a bit of banter about it.
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    “One thing I found though was that the meals I was getting looked so good that a lot of the boys were trying them anyway.
    “I’m always open to have conversations about it. I don’t try to put it in peoples’ faces; people just see that I’m eating differently and ask questions about it, which I’m always happy to answer.” More

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    My dad’s a Premier League legend – I’m making my own way in Championship using Erling Haaland as inspiration

    ERLING HAALAND has been used as inspiration to help Liam Delap flourish during his loan stint at Hull.Liam, 20 – the son of Premier League hero Rory Delap – has been enjoying significant success at the MKM Stadium with seven goals and two assists in 26 Championship appearances.
    Liam Delap is the son of Premier League hero Rory DelapCredit: Action Images – Reuters
    Liam is currently playing on loan at Hull from Manchester CityCredit: Getty
    Liam is using Man City superstar Erling Haaland during his developmentCredit: Getty
    And the Tigers’ manager Liam Rosenior revealed he shows the striker clips of Manchester City superstar Haaland in order to develop in his role up front.
    Rosenior wants the England Under-21 international to lead the attack just like the Norway international as a pure No9.
    And the 39-year-old tactician expects a lot from Rory’s son as he compared him with other Premier League greats, such as Bobby Zamora and Andy Cole.
    Rosenior said: “We’re working with Liam on being – and showing him clips of Haaland at the moment – in the middle of the goal.
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    “We need Liam in this period and for a young player, I think he showed some outstanding stuff.
    “I played with some unbelievable strikers, Andy Cole when he was in his 30s at Fulham, Bobby Zamora at Brighton when he was in his 30s, Brian McBride was in his 30s and what happens over time, is you get those pictures of where you need to be in the six-yard box.
    “Glenn Murray, and he won’t mind me saying this, he couldn’t trap a bag of cement but he knew where the goal was and he played in the Premier League until he was 37.
    “Liam’s learning those pictures as he goes. For me, it’s my job and [assistant head coach] Justin [Walker] who works with him on a daily basis on the attacking stuff to accelerate his learning.
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    “I think Haaland’s a beast. He understands the games that quickly and he just knows where he needs to be. For me, Liam’s improving.”
    If Liam continues to evolve at Hull then there is a chance he could actually play with Haaland at City one day.
    That is because the centre-forward is still in the Citizens’ books following two other loan stints at Stoke and Preston.
    Rory, 47, amassed a total of 359 appearances in the Premier League during a 19-year career that saw him playing for the likes of Derby, Southampton, Sunderland and Stoke.
    The former midfielder is currently the assistant manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv where he works under former Republic or Ireland team-mate Robbie Keane. More

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    I was on the bench vs Man Utd two days ago – today I scored the winner for my new club after driving overnight

    JOE HODGE scored the winner for his new club – less than 48 hours after sitting on the bench against Manchester United.The Wolves youngster, 21, was not used by Gary O’Neil on Thursday night as the Red Devils sealed a dramatic 4-3 victory.
    Joe Hodge was on the bench for Wolves against Manchester United on Thursday nightCredit: Getty
    He came on to score the winner against Blackburn on SaturdayCredit: Rex
    Hodge and three other outfield players remained in the Wolves dugout as Pedro Neto appeared to rescue a point before Kobbie Mainoo’s 97th-minute finish.
    The match kicked off at 8.15pm on Thursday evening – finishing just after 10pm.
    And at 11.05pm – five minutes after the transfer window officially closed – QPR confirmed they had signed Hodge on loan for the remainder of the season.
    Hodge then drove down from the West Midlands to West London overnight to train with his new team-mates on Friday.
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    And after getting to know Marti Cifuentes and his squad, it is understood the Rs headed up to Lancashire later on Friday – a 224-mile journey from the TSG training ground in Hounslow to Ewood Park.
    Hodge was then named among the substitutes when the team news was announced at 2pm for the Championship clash.
    Cifuentes turned to Hodge as part of a triple change on 58 minutes.
    And just seven minutes later, the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international tucked home in style.
    Most read in FootballJoe Hodge’s hectic 48 hours

    THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY

    7.15pm – Named on Wolves bench vs Man Utd
    8.15pm – Wolves vs Man Utd kicks off
    10.17pm – Full-time at Molineux
    11.00pm – Transfer window closes
    11.05pm – QPR announce Hodge loan signing

    FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY

    Hodge drives 140 miles from Molineux to London
    Trains with new QPR team-mates at TSG training ground
    QPR team travel 224 miles to Blackburn

    SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY

    2.00pm – Hodge named on QPR bench
    3.00pm – Kick-off between Blackburn and QPR
    4.16pm – Hodge comes off bench for debut
    4.23pm – Hodge scores to make it 2-0
    4.59pm – Full-time at Ewood Park as QPR win 2-1

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    That put the Hoops 2-0 up with two goals in three minutes.
    And although Sam Gallagher pulled one back for Blackburn, there was no repeat of the late chaos from two nights ago as QPR held on for a crucial three points as they battle to avoid relegation to League One.
    Unsurprisingly, there was plenty of adoration for Hodge on social media after his whirlwind couple of days.
    One fan said: “Joe Hodge I love you with all my heart xx”
    Another wrote: “What a start to Hodge’s career. Glad you made the trip down from Wolves. Thank you!”
    A third added: “Could Joe Hodge be the best thing Gary O’Neil has done for QPR since getting sent off at Wembley?”
    And a final user commented: “Don’t fall in love with a loan player, don’t fall in love with a loan player, don’t fall in love with a loan player… (10 mins into Joe Hodge debut) Never leave.” More

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    Fans fume at Sky Sports commentator as ex-Premier League ace ‘doubles down forever’ on controversial opinion

    LEEDS fans fumed at Sky Sports analyst Andy Hinchcliffe during last night’s clash with Bristol City.Daniel Farke’s men travelled to Ashton Gate knowing that a win, at least temporarily, would see them leapfrog Ipswich into second.

    Georginio Rutter appeared to be brought down in the boxCredit: X @SkyFootball
    The forward was challenged by George TannerCredit: X @SkyFootball
    Tanner did not appear to get any of the ballCredit: X @SkyFootball
    The match was televised on Sky Sports, with former Manchester City, Everton and Sheffield Wednesday defender Hinchcliffe on co-commentary duties.
    With the match still goalless in the 36th minute, Georginio Rutter appeared to be wiped out in the box by George Tanner.
    Referee Stephen Martin waved away Leeds’ appeals.
    Hinchcliffe, 54, initially claimed that Tanner had won the ball.
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    After seeing a replay he changed his mind, but still maintained that the referee had made the correct decision.
    He said: “I’m not so sure actually whether he does touch the ball, Tanner.
    “But I feel that Rutter is looking to go down. The challenge comes in, is there any clear contact?
    “Does the contact send Rutter to the ground? I don’t think that it does, I think Rutter is looking for this.
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    “He feels the challenge come in and then he exaggerates the fall. He’s not had his legs taken away from him.”
    Leeds fans watching at home couldn’t believe what they were hearing, believing their £35million man to have clearly been wiped out in the box.
    One wrote on social media: “We reckon you need to rethink your Championship commentary team!”
    While a second sarcastically posted: “Glad Andy Hinchcliffe can put his bias against Leeds to one side whilst commentating.”
    A third fumed: “I reckon you need to appoint someone who doesn’t have an anti-Leeds agenda to do co-comms, maybe someone who is totally impartial in fact.”
    And a fourth commented: “That commentators take on that is wild, stonewaller.”
    Another added: “All three studio pundits think it was a pen but good old Andy Hinchcliffe thinks there was no contact and went down too easy!”
    The controversial incident went on to not matter, with Leeds grabbing all three points courtesy of Wilfried Gnonto’s 47th minute winner.
    After the game, a delighted Farke told the BBC: “I think it was nearly the perfect away performance.
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    “We perhaps took 10, 15 minutes to come into this game but there was so many things I liked today – all the pressing, counter-pressing, our possession, our transition moments, the fighting spirit.
    “I think we were so dominant, created out of more or less each and possible situation, transition moments, set-pieces, possession, through the centre of the wings, so many chances.”
    Daniel Farke was delighted with his side’s winCredit: Rex More

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    ‘I kiss both arms before every game’ – Swansea star Jamie Paterson reveals heartwarming tribute contained in tattoos

    JAMIE PATERSON will this weekend kiss both arms in memory of his late grandmother as Swansea take to the field against Plymouth.The striker, 32, has never forgotten the love he received from Ivy while he was a kid – and has a number of touching tattoos in tribute.
    Jamie Paterson with a framed photo of himself as a kid, his nan Ivy, dad Stuart, granddad Ron and dog Penny
    Jamie Paterson has had a tattoo of the photo inked onto his right arm
    One of them is of a young Paterson with his nan, her Yorkshire Terrier Penny, grandfather Ron and dad Stuart sitting on a sofa – which has been taken from an old family photo. 
    While another is a beautiful silhouette of the Swansea star as a little kid holding hands with his grandmother – as well as her name, Ivy.
    And, touchingly, he has a sentence tattooed that reads: “I have an angel in heaven that watches over me – RIP Nan.”
    She passed away after suffering cancer around the time Paterson was starting secondary school but the bond they formed will never be broken.
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    He told SunSport: “I always kiss my tattoos before games and again if I score. It makes me feel good and they bring me so much comfort. 
    “It might sound mad but I talk to my nan all the time. In fact, a couple of weeks ago at the Southampton game, it would’ve been her birthday. I told her, ‘I’m going to score for your birthday today’ and that’s exactly what happened! 
    “Although we lost 3-1, it was a nice little gift for her. Stuff like that is always happening, which makes me believe she’s with me.”
    Paterson was brought up in Coventry and lived for a chunk of his childhood with his paternal grandparents from the age of five until around 11.
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    He said: “I went to a primary school next to my grandparents because the ones near my home weren’t great so ended up living with them. I was with my nan almost 24/7 until she started getting ill – as well as with my aunt and cousins.
    “We’d do the usual things like going to the park or my grandmother would come to my football games.
    “There was also a park near her house where I used to always play football. I remember getting goal-posts one Christmas and always causing carnage around the local estate.”
    Paterson fondly remembers how selfless his grandmother was.
    A touching silhouette of a young Jamie Paterson with his nan Ivy
    Jamie Paterson’s loving message about his grandmother
    And, while suffering cancer, she even cared for his ill grandfather.
    He said: “Nan would do everything for me. She didn’t have money so wasn’t showering me with gifts or materialistic things – it was her love and care – that was massive to me.
    “They didn’t have a car. I’m not sure if they had even been abroad on holiday. But if they were still alive today, I’d make sure they’d be sitting on a beach in Barbados!
    “My grandfather had stomach problems and had to have half his liver removed – and yet she was doing everything for him, even while, as I later found out, suffering from cancer herself! 
    “She had great manners and was popular around her neighbourhood. They still speak fondly about her today.
    “Everyone would pop round for a cup of tea. Back then we didn’t have the internet like today and people actually met and spoke to each other rather than through phones or social media!”
    Paterson was too young to understand and know about the disease when his grandmother was first diagnosed with breast cancer and had an operation.
    But he does remember her declining health when the cancer returned a second time.
    Having the tattoos brings a lot of comfort to the Swansea star
    Jamie Paterson kisses his tattoos before every game and when he scores
    He said: “I was too young the first time to understand and her breast operation was hidden from me. 
    “But unfortunately it came back and at that stage I did notice her health declining.
    “You could see she was losing weight and wasn’t as active. She used to walk me all the way up the hill to the school gates but towards the end she’d wait at the bottom while I walked half a mile up.
    “Now that makes me realise how ill she must have been at that stage.”
    Paterson still feels emotional after all these years when he reflects on his grandmother’s heart-breaking final days.
    He said: “I was going to walk to my nan’s but one of my mum’s friends came to the school to tell me, ‘You’re coming back with me today.’ It was at that moment I knew something was up and she told my nan was ill and had gone to hospital.
    Swans raise funds for cancer charityTODAY’S home game against Plymouth has been dedicated to raise awareness and funds for nationwide cancer support charity Maggie’s.
    It makes up part of the season-long ‘Tackling Cancer Together’ campaign, which covers all facets of the disease’s journey including diagnosis, mental health impact and the financial struggles that can occur.
    The Swansea branch alone needs £750,000 a year to operate.
    And Paterson said: “It’s massive for people who are ill and their families and friends – including when they have lost a loved one.
    “My parents broke up in the aftermath of my nan’s death and maybe if Maggie’s had been around then they might have stayed together with their support. Who knows? 
    “But it’s vital this great charity can continue doing its work and this is something I’m passionate about.”
    Swansea will be playing in a special one-off home kit shirt dedicated to the charity, with match-worn ones being auctioned off to raise funds. 
    Each warm-up shirt will include the names of someone in the Swansea City family who have either suffered cancer or passed away.
    Club legends Alan Curtis and Kev Johns, who both survived, and ex-player Kevin Austin, who passed away, are among those honoured.

    “I remember visiting with my parents and she was in bed, awake but not too much.
    “And then I remember a couple of times I visited alone and just sat holding her hand, which was freezing. She just slowly deteriorated to the point where she wasn’t really conscious, she was just breathing heavily. That was the toughest part for me.
    “When we received news she had passed away, I had never seen my dad cry so much. He was a hard man who never got upset – but was in bits. I also cried at the time. I can’t describe the feeling but it was something I’ve never experienced before or since.
    “In the space of six months, we lost both my grandmother and grandfather. The knock-on effect of all that was awful. 
    “My dad had started going to the pub every night, which he never did before, and eventually my parents split up.
    “It was a hard time – and going to school actually proved to be a release for me. It was a happy place.”
    But Paterson has a wonderful thing to hold on to. Not just that he had a mutually loving relationship with his grandmother but that she predicted his future shortly before passing.
    He said: “She said days before dying that I would make it as a professional footballer.”
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    And so he has. The striker went on to play for Walsall, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City as well as loan spells at Huddersfield and Derby – while this is his third season with the Swans.
    Just like one of his tattoos, he says “She’s still here watching over me and I think she’s very proud.” More