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      Jude Bellingham’s brother Jobe at centre of heated brawl as tempers flare after Luton clash with Sunderland

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM’s brother was at the centre of a heated brawl after Sunderland beat Luton Town.Jobe Bellingham clashed with the Hatters’ goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski at full-time.Jobe Bellingham was involved in a clash with Luton’s Thomas KaminskiCredit: GettyPlenty of players joined in on the brawlCredit: GettyJobe is the brother of Jude BellinghamCredit: PAMany more players joined in as the tensions escalated at Kenilworth Road.Bellingham and his Sunderland team-mate Luke O’Nien, as well as Luton’s Carlton Morris and Tom Holmes, ended the night in the book.But it was Sunderland’s night after they survived a gruelling first-half examination at the hands of the Hatters, who should have been ahead at the break.The Town’s failure to cash in rebounded as Chris Rigg, 17, fired the visitors ahead ten minutes into the second half.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLLuton made things difficult again when Elijah Adebayo headed his first of the season eight minutes later but the Black Cats got the cream when Mundle shot home in the 66th minute.Sunderland, chasing their second away win in four days after Sunday’s victory at Hull, were first into the attack with just a minute on the clock with a shot from Dan Neil.Seconds later, Belgian stopper Thomas Kaminski saved Alan Browne’s close-range goalbound back-heel with a leg.Luton, tails up after Saturday’s 3-0 win over derby rivals Watford, survived that nervy spell and went close with a shot by striker Morris.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThis was breathless, all- action stuff, and Sunderland came under severe pressure midway through the half.First, Mackems keeper Anthony Patterson intervened to stop a header from home centre-back Mark McGuiness squeezing in under the bar.World Cup stadium lies half demolished next to rubble as it hosts second tier matches with no away end Chirs Rigg fired in the opener at Kenilworth RoadCredit: GettyCarlton Morris had a goal controvserially ruled offsideCredit: PAThat was from Alfie Doughty’s left-wing corner. Within seconds, Doughty’s next corner set up McGuinness for another header — and this time the ball hit the bar.Luton thought they had found a way through deep into first-half added time when Morris swept home yet another Doughty corner — but Town midfielder Jordan Clark was standing well offside.Two minutes into the second half, Patterson kept the score level with a save from Adebayo’s close-range header out after Clark’s cross from the right found the big striker.But Sunderland took the lead on 55 minutes.For once, Luton slackened their grip in midfield as Tahith Chong lost possession and Browne’s header sent Rigg on a run.As he headed towards the left of the area, the teenager swivelled and fired home a low left-foot shot.But Luton levelled eight minutes later. That man Doughty was at the root of things again, firing in a free-kick from the rightREAD MORE SUN STORIESMorris met it just past the far post and volleyed across goal for Adebayo to head home.Sunderland grabbed back the lead six minutes later. Chong claimed he had been fouled, ref Tom Nield disagreed, and Neil set up Mundle for a run across the box that ended with a low finish. More

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      Man Utd ‘set to appoint former EFL boss and academy product, 48, to surprise role’ in major backroom rethink

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      MANCHESTER UNITED look geared up to bring old boy Michael Appleton into their new-look backroom staff.The 48-year-old has been linked with a return to his childhood club after he was sacked by League One side Charlton in January.Manchester United look ready to bring Michael Appleton into their backroom staffErik ten Hag has already added Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake to his staffNow Old Trafford’s sporting supremo Dan Ashworth is poised to appoint him to the transfer team with responsibility for loans.Former Tranmere physio and manager Les Parry holds the position but he is set to be replaced, according to The Mail.Appleton was spotted sitting alongside Ashworth and Old Trafford technical director Jason Wilcox at the start of October.The trio watched the Under-21s fight out a 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin in the Premier League International Cup in Salford three weeks ago.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSAppleton’s appearance has re-ignited talk that he could be appointed in the near future to oversee United’s young players who go out on loan to other clubs.The Mail initially reported that Appleton wouldn’t take the job last month, but it appears the lifelong United fan could make a stunning U-turn.Appleton was appointed as Charlton gaffer last September, eight months after being sacked by Blackpool. However, he didn’t last very long at The Valley as he was shown the exit door in January.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe 48-year-old has also previously taken charge of Portsmouth, Preston, Blackburn, Oxford and Lincoln.Appleton worked with Ashworth at West Brom and is among his proteges.Sir Alex Ferguson phoned and tried to convince me to join Man Utd – but their transfer plan made me say noHe was given a chance to come through as a coach at the Hawthorns under his mentor and they have a very close relationship.It would be his first administrative job but he has a good knowledge of United’s rising stars and the right contacts to find them homes.Appleton joined the Red Devils as a teenager and earned his first professional contract in 1994 after impressing academy coaches.He was loaned to Wimbledon and Lincoln the following season to get first-team experience and eventually returned to Old Trafford in 1996 to make his senior debut.After playing just 90 minutes in total for Man Utd, Appleton moved to Preston North End in 1997.He then joined West Brom, where he spent the final two years of his career before retiring in 2003 after losing his two-year battle with the injury. Michael Appleton spent three years in the United set up More

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      Arsenal announce replacement for Jack Wilshere after former star, 32, quit as U18s boss to take job with Norwich

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      ARSENAL have named Adam Birchall as the new Under-18s head coach after Jack Wilshere’s departure to Norwich.Wilshere, 32, has left the Gunners to take his new role as first-team coach with the Canaries in the Championship.Jack Wilshere has left Arsenal as Under-18s boss to join Norwich as first-team coachCredit: GettyArsenal have announced Adam Birchall as Wilshere’s replacementCredit: GettyAnd the Gunners have announced that Birchall, 39, will be replacing the former England international in the youth side.The former forward is a product of the Hale End academy himself but never played for the North Londoners’ senior squad.The ex-Wales youth international went on to play in the EFL throughout his 13-year career until his retirement in 2016 at Bromley.Birchal returned to Arsenal’s youth system as a coach shortly after hanging up his boots.Read More on ArsenalAnd he will have a tough act to follow as Wilshere helped nurture talents, such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.Birchall is now tasked with handling some promising young talent, such as Max Dowman who has been dubbed the “next Kaka”.And he now faces a major task ahead as it was reported that Wilshere’s departure from Arsenal after two years in charge of the Under-18s could spell the end for Dowman, 14.Reports suggest the attacking midfielder’s family are “extremely disappointed” with the change in the dugout.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe England Under-16 international has 18 months left on his schoolboy terms and has yet to commit to a scholarship.Wilshere has been an important figure for Dowman both on and off the pitch.Ex-Arsenal star Jack Wilshere shows his skills at AGF training The new Norwich coach showed an understanding for the pressures the playmaker faces given he experienced a similar situation coming through as a highly-rated player in Arsenal’s academy.Arsenal ratings vs Shakhtar: Jesus reminds fans of his quality but Trossard flops for poor GunnersARSENAL continued their unbeaten run in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk – but it was far from a convincing performance.Gabriel Martinelli orchestrated the decisive goal when his low-driven strike hit the post and deflected in off the back of goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Gunners…DAVID RAYA – 7Seldom asked to do much aside from recycle the ball to Gabriel or Saliba until the final stagesPushed a potentially dangerous cross out of danger in the 84th minute. Pulled out a magnificent low save in injury time before claiming a dangerous cross to keep his clean sheet.BEN WHITE – 6Back in at right-back today and played as if he had never been out of the team. Received a yellow card in the 34th minute. Subbed at half-time for Mikel Merino.WILLIAM SALIBA – 7In the team after his red card against Bournemouth, played like his typically assured self marshalling the defence.One or two sloppy passes late in the second half but otherwise can have no complaints with another solid performance.GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 5Sloppily gave the ball away to hand the visitors a dangerous chance out of nothing. Had another lapse just after the opener but in the end he was bailed out by Calafiori.Marked improvement in the second half.RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6Skied a golden chance over the bar after six minutes. Tested the goalkeeper again after 24 minutes.Dragged his foot and went down injured after skipping under a tackle in the 67th minute. Replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly in 71st minute.THOMAS PARTEY – 6Comfortable evening in midfield for him. Recycled the ball well when at his feet and kept play ticking over.Moved to right back as White was hooked but didn’t have too many worries. When he was caught out of position Rice was able to cover.DECLAN RICE – 6Like Partey, he had a quiet night in midfield with Shakhtar unable to retain meaningful possession.Moved into the six as White was hooked and Partey moved to right-back. Cut out a dangerous low cross at the edge of the area. LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4Nothing quite went right for him all night with some sloppy touches ending attacks and putting Arsenal in trouble.Summed up his night by missing a 77th minute penalty and was hooked in the 88th minute.GABRIEL JESUS – 8Wore the captain’s armband and looked bright down the right wing.Denied a well-deserved goal by the feet of the keeper in the 43rd minute after Havertz played him in.Second half saw more good link play, but never had another chance to end his goal drought as he was replaced by Sterling in the 68th minute.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7Grew into the game following a quiet start and was rewarded with a goal, of sorts, after 30 minutes.Brazilian cut inside from the left wing before firing a shot to the near post before the shot rebounded off the woodwork and hit the goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk to go in the net. KAI HAVERTZ – 7Centimeters away from getting Arsenal’s second in the 39th minute after Jesus squared a volley back across goal.Returned the favour to set up his team-mate moments later only for the goalkeeper to prevent a goal.Won a free-kick at the very end of the game to run the clock down.SUBSMikel Merino (on for White HT) – 6Some nice touches and stitched play together well. A solid yet unspectacular performance.Raheem Sterling (on for Jesus 68 mins) – 6Tried to play on the shoulder of the last man but did not have the pace find the clear cut chance he would have liked.Myles Lewis-Skelly (on for Calafiori 71 mins) – 6Slotted in at left-back and was not afraid to show for the ball but often did not receive it while tucking infield.Jorginho (on for Trossard 88 mins) – N/A More

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      Oxford boss forced to have medical attention post-match with players ‘shocked and upset’ after he was rushed home

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      OXFORD UNITED manager Des Buckingham was given medical attention last night following the club’s draw at home to Derby.Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s equaliser cancelled out Tottenham loanee Dane Scarlett’s 12th minute opener – but the game was overshadowed by concerns for the home side’s manager.Des Buckingham felt dizzy on the touchline and was taken home after doctors gave him medical attentionCredit: RexBuckingham’s assistant Craig Short said after the game: “He was feeling dizzy in the last half an hour and kept walking from pitch side to the dugout.”He spent some time holding onto the rails by the dugout talking to the club doctor and told me he could just about shake hands at the end.”He added: “The doctor is treating him now and we feel it is probably best that he gets off home as quickly as possible.”The players were all a bit shocked and upset when we told them.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOxford made it five consecutive draws in the Championship with Tuesday night’s stalemate.Buckingham guided The U’s to promotion from League One last season, toppling Bolton Wanderers in the play-off final at Wembley.They have started the Championship season in impressive form, currently sitting in 10th and in a six-game unbeaten run.Fellow promoted side Derby County sit just behind them in 12th, while last year’s League One title winners Portsmouth are footing up the table with just one win from their opening 11 games, losing 2-0 at Cardiff in a relegation six-pointer.Most read in EFLElsewhere in the Championship, Leeds pulled level with table-toppers Sunderland by beating Watford at Elland Road.Every other game in the second tier finished with honours even on Tuesday night – Preston drawing with Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday being held to a goalless draw by Swansea, and QPR vs Coventry also finishing level.’My pro football team-mate thought he was Spiderman after being spiked on night out’ | What the EFL?! More

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      QPR are rock bottom of the Championship after yet ANOTHER defeat… but here’s why they should NOT sack Cifuentes

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      MARTI CIFUENTES performed an almost near miracle in keeping QPR in the Championship last season but he is coming under pressure at Loftus RoadThe Spaniard’s side — after a summer of optimism — sit rock bottom with one win from the opening 10 games.Marti Cifuentes has come under pressure at Loftus Road after a poor startPortsmouth’s win leaves QPR rock bottom of the ChampionshipAnd the Rs fans’ misery was compelled by going in front at Loftus Road on Saturday before losing to a Portsmouth team who had not yet won a game.Some QPR fans are beginning to cite Cifuentes as the problem.Some accused him of not having much of a game plan, being too confusing with his messaging and tactics — while others blamed chief executive Christian Nourry and head of recruitment Andy Belk for signing too many players this summer.They made nine signings and allowed 12 to leave.READ MORE TOP FOOTBALLThe last point is a valid one. QPR had great momentum at the end of last season — winning five of their last eight games, including a thumping 4-0 win against Leeds which effectively ended their automatic promotion hopes.QPR had found a winning formula under Cifuentes — and you do often wonder why you would fix something that was not broken?But Nourry wanted to rebalance the squad this summer, thinking more long-term in the club’s approach, and in doing so go for one that has more depth.The club went for younger players they believed would grow with the them or that they could sell for a profit at a later date, to enable them to be competitive in a division with some big-hitters.Most read in ChampionshipDespite having former Premier League pedigree themselves, QPR are not in the same ball park at Leeds or Sunderland or West Brom.FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThey have not exactly been getting hammered this season.But, as things stand, they have not been able to get across the line in games — apart from Luton — and drawn four times already.Former Watford and Gillingham hero Andy Hessenthaler shares crazy EFL story after being attacked by the owner I What the EFL?!My concern is they are not looking clinical enough in the final third — only scoring 10 in as many games — but more worryingly they have been leaky at the back. Eighteen goals conceded so far does not make good reading. They have to tighten that up or a relegation battle will be inevitable.Lots of clubs talk about an ethos and identity … and of course that is important.Yet football is about winning. It doesn’t matter how you win, there are plenty of different ways to do that. Pep Guardiola did not reinvent the wheel at Manchester City with tippy-tappy.But the be all and end all is the three points.QPR fans have not seen enough of that in recent years. They have instead witnessed too much chop and changing at the top.Cifuentes tries to get directions across to his QPR players at Loftus RoadQPR chief executive Christian Nourry wanted to rebalance the squad this summerThey were unfortunate that ex-boss Michael Beale proved to be fake in his sincerity on wanting to grow alongside the Rs when ultimately he couldn’t wait to get his coat on to dash up to Ibrox as soon as Rangers came calling. He proved a disaster there and was terrible at Sunderland too – and his reputation in the game is in tatters as a result.Had he stayed at a club that was a far better fit for him, I reckon they might have been challenging around the play-offs now. It’s not so inconceivable they might have done a Luton and got into the Premier League.His mate from his Liverpool coaching days, Neil Critchley, turned out to be an awful appointment and unfortunately Gareth Ainsworth’s style of football wasn’t a good fit at Loftus Road.Cifuentes is a good fit though. He knows what he is doing. He has good clear ideas and the players are on side with him.They mustn’t make the mistake of sacking him now and having more change at the top.He kept the club up last season and will do it again. But the be all and end all has to be winning first, building the culture and ethos second.It’s a two-pronged approach that has to go hand in hand – because relegation to League One doesn’t bare thinking about for the West Londoners.Wilder threatens love-in with rival Leeds CHRIS WILDER was gushing in his praise for Leeds … despite fans constantly singing “Dah, Dah, Dah .. Wilder is a w****r.”Chris Wilder received dog’s abuse at Elland Road but bit back after the gameThe Sheffield United boss believes it’s unlikely anyone will be finishing above Daniel Farke’s men this season after seeing his side played off the park in a 2-0 loss at Elland Road.But after his post-match press conference, he asked the assembled journalists, “Do you think I’ve got any chance of being invited back into the Leeds Popularity Contest?” And then he turned to Radio Leeds broadcaster Adam Pope and said: “Popey, I saw you singing, ‘Wilder is a w****r.”Heartstricken EFL family get full supportDEEPEST sympathies from everyone here at SunSport to QPR striker Matt Smith for losing his two-month old son Maddison — who was also grandson of Blackpool boss Steve BruceThe pair understandably were away from the R’s game with Derby and the Seasiders clash with Barnsley — while Salford boss Alex Bruce, Steve’s son and Maddison’s uncle, was absent from their game against Crewe.In times like this the football community pulls together and rallies around to lend support. That will no doubt be happening now to give them as well as Maddison’s mum and Bruce’s daughter Amy all the love and support they need.It’s alright Jack at the age of … 105JACK SIMMONS was the oldest fan to attend a game this weekend … at the age of 105.The lifelong Charlton supporter took in his beloved club’s League One clash with Stockport County at The Valley.Jack has supported the club for more than NINETY-FIVE years.Jack Simmons (front left) at The Valley for Charlton’s game with StockportAlthough understandably finding it difficult to attend games nowadays, he regularly takes in the match commentary from the club’s website and watches live streams too.He said: “My school was Charlton Central, which was close to The Royal Standard and many of us were Charlton fans.”At the age of nine, I used to lean out of my auntie’s window and could just about see half the pitch for free!”Jack says the first game he attended was against Port Vale in 1934 .. shortly before Sam Bartram joined Charlton from Boldon Villa!But asked what his favourite game was, he said: “I’ve man but one that sticks out was when we won the FA Cup in 1947!”His favourite player was Dan Welsh – “a great wing-centre half as they were called in those days.”And finally when asked who his Charlton starting XI would be, he said: “Whoever the manager chooses, he knows best.”Sticking with Charlton, there was a touching moment when their community coach Matt Phillips was reunited with the 78-year-old man whose life he saved.Alan Ford collapsed while playing walking football and Matt rushed to the scene performing CPR and using a defibrillator before the paramedics took over.Alan was unconscious for 30 minutes and had to undergo a quadruple heart bypass operation at the Royal King’s Hospital, London, as well as having a personal fitted defibrillator.Alan said: “I just don’t know how I could thank Matt enough from my heart and my wife Sue. We love him so much. It’s very important for people to know how to do CPR because you never know when something’s going to happen. READ MORE SUN STORIESCharlton community coach Matt Phillips with Alan Ford“It’s got to be done. If you’re worried about hurting them, remember you’re helping to save them. Also to have that defibrillator there, someone trained on it, it’s so important and it’s a must really for all these sports places, workplaces, parks, wherever, to have these. You never know what’s going to happen, like it happened to me.” EFL sponsors SkyBet are currently running an Every Minute Matters campaign, encouraging everyone to learn how to do CPR. More

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      Portsmouth stars get trapped in lift and ‘ration water’ between TEN players after win over QPR

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      PORTSMOUTH’S players were left rationing water after getting trapped in a lift on Saturday.Following their win over QPR, 10 Pompey stars were stuck between floors in the elevator.Portsmouth’s players were trapped in a lift after their win over QPR on SaturdayCredit: Instagram @tom5mcCallum Lang urged his team-mates to ‘save the water just in case’ whilst they were stuckCredit: Instagram @tom5mcJohn Mousinho’s side claimed their first Championship victory of the season at Loftus Road.Pompey came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Freddie Potts and Callum Lang.However, both players were then trapped in a lift with eight of their team-mates.Defender Tom McIntyre revealed their plight on social media after sharing a video to his Instagram story.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe clip showed the players huddled inside the lift as they forced open the door, only to be met with a wall.Several stars looked on as full-back Jordan Williams inspected the door before McIntyre panned the camera to show Owen Moxon sipping from his water bottle.Match-winner Lang could then be seen turning to Moxon and hilariously telling him: “Actually save the water just in case.”After making it out of the elevator, McIntyre uploaded the video alongside the caption: “Need to get stuck in the lift every week.”Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSLang himself also shared the post to his own story, adding: “Save that water lads,” with a brain emoji.Reacting to the incident on social media, one fan wrote: “Let’s hope they’re out in time for Cardiff.”Sheffield United stars held back as Championship clash with Portsmouth descends into brawl at full-time whistleTom McIntyre joked on Instagram his team-mates ‘need to get stuck every week’Credit: Instagram @tom5mcPompey came from behind to claim their first Championship win of the season at QPRCredit: GettyMeanwhile, another simply added: “Brilliant,” with a string of crying laughing emojis.Pompey are back in action on Tuesday night as they visit Cardiff, who are one place above them in 22nd on goal difference.Saturday’s win was their first in the second tier for over 4,000 days after a 12-year absence from the Championship.The League One champions sealed their return in dramatic fashion back in April by beating Barnsley at Fratton Park.Their maiden win also compounded the misery on QPR, who dropped to the foot of the table after just one win in 10 matches this season.Lang scored his fourth goal of the season from the penalty spot to seal all three pointsCredit: PA More

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      Stunned Wayne Rooney says ‘it’s difficult to put into words’ after his Plymouth are thrashed 5-0 at Cardiff

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      WAYNE ROONEY was almost lost for words after his Plymouth side were hammered by Cardiff.The Manchester United legend, serving a one-game touchline ban,  watched the drama unfold from the stands.Wayne Rooney was almost lost for words after Plymouth were hammered by CardiffCredit: RexArgyle were thrashed 5-0 in the Championship on Saturday afternoonCredit: RexAnd the Pilgrims manager was helpless as Argyle produced a horror show in the Welsh capital.Former Manchester City talent Alex Robertson fired the Bluebirds ahead in the 16th minute.Wales international Rubin Colwill made it 2-0 eight minutes later.Plymouth’s Ibrahim Cissoko was then sent off four minutes before half-time for shoving Perry Ng.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnwar El Ghazi, Callum Robinson and Chris Willock all netted in the second half to add to Rooney’s misery.Rooney said: “It’s difficult to put into words.“I thought we started the game OK, we had decent control and should be 1-0 up, Michael Obafemi had a great chance.“Beyond that, we got really sloppy, we gave the ball away a lot.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“We didn’t win tackles or do the basics right.“In this league, if you don’t do that right, you have difficult days like today.“It’s difficult watching it from the stands, you want to be there at the side of the pitch trying to help the team.“Today we have to give Cardiff a lot of credit. They deserved to win the game, they were the better team.”Rooney, 38, did his best to stay calm after the heavy defeat.And the former England skipper says he is trying to control his emotions better as a manager.He added: “I think I’ve always been quite consistent with my messages.“Of course, you’re angry, upset and disappointed. But I think that’s more when I’m speaking to my players.The defeat was Plymouth’s worst of the season following Rooney’s summer arrivalCredit: Rex“I’m very upset with the performance because that’s not us.“The main thing is we have to move on from this quickly.”Victory means the Bluebirds have picked up seven points from their last three games under caretaker-boss Omer Riza.And Riza revealed that injured Wales international and former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey played a key role in Cardiff’s bumper win.He said: “We had Aaron Ramsey upstairs casting an eye down to give us some information and it all came together well today.“I said to Aaron that I’d like him to go up there, cast his eye over the game and, if he had anything of importance, to come down.“To be fair, when he came down and mentioned a couple of things, it was what was in our minds anyway. So we’re all on the same page.”Cardiff went into the match with the worst goal difference — minus 14 — of any team after nine games of a Championship season since Bolton in 2017-18.Rooney was forced to watch from the stands as he served a touchline banCredit: RexBut they netted five times in a league game for the first time in seven years to move off the foot of the table and up to 22nd place.And Riza reckons the likes of ex-Aston Villa man El Ghazi and former Arsenal winger Willock have helped transform Cardiff’s attack.He said: “We’ve found positions for them which suit them. They’ve got to keep that up.“Rubin was excellent today, his work rate, his intensity.“The same with Ollie Tanner, same with Callum Robinson, same with Anwar and the boys who came on.“We need to work. If we do that, we’ll get our rewards.”Riza is determined to land the Cardiff job permanently after Turkish boss Erol Bulut was sacked by the Welsh side in September.But the ex-Leyton Orient manager says he is trying not to put himself under too much pressure.Ibrahim Cissoko’s first half red card saw Plymouth reduced to 10 menCredit: AlamyHe explained: “If I do things the right way, treat people the right way, I’ll get my rewards further down the line, whenever that is.“If it doesn’t come here, it will come somewhere, I’ll just keep working hard.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We’ve had good conversations here about not putting too much pressure on me. The players have been excellent.“It’s been coming and now it has to continue. It can’t be a one off.” More

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      Aaron Connolly had ‘specific goal to be ready’ for return to Hull as Sunderland boss provides update after rehab hell

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      REGIS LE BRIS says Aaron Connolly is desperate to face some of the demons of his past and make his debut against former club Hull City.Sunderland head to the Tigers knowing a victory would ensure they end the day top of the Championship.Aaron Connolly scored eight times for Hull last season before entering rehabCredit: GettyThe Irish striker is now desperate to make his debut for Sunderland against the TigersCredit: AlamyIrish forward Connolly, 24, revealed last week that he underwent treatment for alcohol addiction after he was released by Hull this summer.The brave ace, who famously burst on the Premier League scene aged 19 with Brighton thanks to a brace against Tottenham, opened up about how drinking had impacted his life and career to coincide with World Mental Health Day.Following his spell in rehab, Connolly was handed a chance to resurrect his career by Sunderland.And after scoring a couple of goals for the Under-21s in midweek, Le Bris says he is desperate to be unleashed against the side he got eight goals for last term despite claiming that his “life was a mess” while he was on Humberside.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe French coach said: “I think that it was a specific goal for him to be ready for this game.“We haven’t rushed the project, it was perfect, and I don’t know if we will use him but he is available.”He continued: “We knew before we knew we needed three or four weeks to assess his physical level.“He was really fit at the beginning which was good news for us.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“He needed to get to know his teammates and the team. We had two opportunities to play with the U21s and he did very well, he scored which is good for a striker.“He needed time to connect with a structure, team and team-mates and now he’s ready.”Chris Rigg talks about his journey to becoming a player for Sunderland On the bravery of Connolly sharing his issues with the world, Le Bris said: “It is very interesting to share these ideas instead of hiding and pretending that it doesn’t exist.“The first thing is to recognise your mistakes and then the next is to avoid any repetition. “So it’s not a problem for us to talk about any problems a player has had in their career, whether it is a small detail on the pitch or a bigger one off it.“I’m OK with that and it is a problem for the players in the dressing-room.”And Le Bris says that he has not had to put a shoulder around the forward since he bared his soul.But he did stress that everyone at the club would be there for him if he needed them.Le Bris added: “I don’t exactly know Aaron’s personality, it’s been three weeks now, but I think that he doesn’t need specific attention.“He knows what is important for him and that it is important to succeed now and he’s very connected to that project.“We’ll take care of him and I’m not sure he needs attention at the moment.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHe will be vying with Wilson Isidor to start up front but Eliezer Mayenda is not expected to be available after injury until next weekend.Dan Ballard is also likely to be back to face Oxford but summer signing Salis Abdul Samed – who is yet to play for the Black Cats – remains several weeks away from being available.Who are these famous footballers? More