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    I was kicking about in League Two in 2021, now I’m dreaming of the Premier League with high-flying Ipswich

    VACLAV HLADKY dreamed since he was a young boy in the Czech Republic that he would become a Premier League keeper.And after Ipswich’s storming first half to the Championship season, the 6ft 4in stopper admits he has dreamt even more about following in the footsteps of legendary countrymen Petr Cech and Ludek Miklosko.
    Ipswich keeper Vaclav Hladky has been one of the great stories of the club’s season so far in the Championship
    While the Tractors Boys’ rapid journey from mid-table League One fodder to now having a big chance to win promotion to the Premier League has been remarkable — so have the change in fortunes for Hladky.
    Just over two years ago he was plying his trade for Salford in League Two.
    And the Czech ace, 33, could barely get into the Ipswich team in the third tier — having not started a league game since December 2021.
    But since first-choice and last season’s League One Golden Glove winner Christian Walton got injured days before the season, Hladky has played every single minute.
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    His string of superb performances have helped the team into second, building an impressive 10-point lead over third-placed Leeds.
    And he told SunSport: “I’m not going to lie, I’m over the moon with how it’s gone. It’s been fantastic. I’m enjoying myself — not just me but the whole team is.
    ‘We want to carry this on. We know where we are and know our strengths. We know we can do a lot more too.”
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    This weekend they entertain bitter rivals Norwich in the East Anglian derby — the first time the teams have met since February 2019.
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    When Hladky joined Ipswich they were two divisions below the then Premier League Canaries but today sit nine paces and 21 points above their foes.
    The Czech star deserved his opportunity after being so patient playing second fiddle to Walton.
    What is important is what you learn from losing. If you lose in a bad or an unfortunate way you always must learn and not repeat the mistakes you make. After a defeat we bounce back stronger.”VACLAV HLADKY
    He said: “It was a tough one to be sure. Every keeper wants to play especially with this manager and in a team that’s doing well. 
    “When you see how much progress this team has made during the last two years, you want to be involved. 
    “But I’ve enjoyed working with the other keepers, the coaches and the rest of the team on the training pitch. Now it’s great I can put it all to good use on the pitch.”
    No serious pundit tipped Ipswich to be an automatic promotion contender in the summer. In fact, you would have been hard pressed to find one that gave them a chance of challenging for a play-off spot.
    But the Tractor Boys — along with Leicester — have been quite breathtaking. 
    There were question marks about the depth of their squad and how they would cope after suffering setbacks — but after losing to Leeds and then West Brom they have just bounced back by going on good winning runs again.
    Vaclav Hladky has produced a string of top performances for the Tractor Boys
    Hladky said: “The Championship is hard and we knew we weren’t ever going to win 46 games. You’re always going to lose matches.
    “That’s the nature of football. There’ll be runs where you don’t win but what is important is what you learn from losing.
    “If you lose in a bad way or an unfortunate way you always must learn and not repeat the mistakes you make. We’ve done well and always when after a defeat we bounce back even stronger.”
    But surely even Hladky must be surprised how well the team have done in the Championship considering they were in League One only in May?
    He said: “We played Burnley and Rotherham in the FA Cup last season and proved we could match those teams.
    “So I wasn’t surprised because we knew in those games that we could have done even better. It’s all about the process and getting the basics right. 
    “That is what we’re trying to do. We know we are up in the table. There is a lot more we can deliver.”
    Boss Kieran McKenna has been rightly winning lots of plaudits for the incredible job he has done at Portman Road since taking charge in October 2021.
    The Northern Irishman is being linked already with some top jobs and aged 37 there is little doubt he is the brightest young manager in English football.
    Hladky previously played for Salford and St Mirren as well as Slovan Liberec and FC Brno back home.
    And he said: “Kieran is the best manager I’ve worked with. I can say that clearly.
    “He’s been so enjoyable for every single player — even for those who don’t play regularly. I was one of those and he was fantastic to me then, as he is now.
    Kieran McKenna has been getting huge plaudits for the job he is doing at Ipswich
    “The manager just treats people well on and off the pitch. It’s simply a pleasure to work for him.”
    Having played for the Suffolk club for two-and-half years, Hladky knows how much this derby means for Ipswich fans.
    And it kicks off a mouthwatering set of fixtures for the Tractor Boys, who travel to Leeds next Saturday before hosting Leicester in a top-of-the-table blockbuster on Boxing Day.
    He said: “Norwich is a big game. For the fans, it’s massive. I understand. But for us as players, it’s three points and we want to get them.
    “These are all exciting games. It’s a brilliant time. I’ve got my family coming over from the Czech Republic to watch the games too so we’re all looking forward to it.”
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    And for a keeper who was playing League Two just two and half years ago, there is excitement back home that next season Hladky might become the latest Czech keeper to reach the Premier League.
    He said: “I’m dreaming about it since I was a child. But I’m dreaming even more now when I go to sleep, thinking how it could be. It’s exciting and something we all want to be involved in.” More

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    ‘Secret candidate’ closing in on Sunderland manager job with hot-favourite Will Still missing out

    MICHAEL BEALE is set to be appointed as Sunderland’s new manager, according to reports.The Championship side were initially linked with Reims boss Will Still.
    Michael Beale is set to be named as Sunderland’s new managerCredit: PA
    Sunderland chiefs allegedly held talks with the 31-year-old earlier this week, but they decided against signing him.
    And transfer guru Fabrizio Romano now claims they have reached an agreement with Beale.
    The former Rangers boss was said to be a “secret” candidate on Sunderland’s shortlist.
    Beale was sacked by the Scottish side in October following a poor start to the season.
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    Prior to his role at Ibrox, he managed Queens Park Rangers for five months.
    Beale is set to replace Tony Mowbray, who was sacked earlier this month.
    Academy coach Mike Dodds was subsequently appointed as caretaker boss.
    Mowbray joined Sunderland in August last year – replacing Alex Neil.
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    He guided the Black Cats to the Championship play-offs, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Luton in the semi-finals.
    Sunderland currently sit sixth in the league table with 33 points from 21 games. More

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    England Under-21’s boss Lee Carsley ‘contacted’ over stunning first manager’s job in English football

    LEE CARSLEY has reportedly been contacted by Stoke City over the vacant manager role.The Potters are without a manager since sacking Alex Neil, with the club on the edge of the relegation zone.
    Lee Carsley is in the running for the Stoke City jobCredit: Getty
    Stoke City are currently 19th in the second division, having lost eleven of their 21 matches.
    The club had been linked with a move for Graham Potter.
    However, the former Blues manager is believed to have rejected the opportunity to move to the Bet365 Stadium.
    Carsley, 49, is now believed to be the club’s next target to take up the seat in the dugout.
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    BBC reporter Aaron Paul has claimed that the England Under 21s coach has met with Stoke about the position.
    He wrote: “Been told this morning that Stoke City have met England U21 head coach Lee Carsley, with a view to him becoming their new manager.”
    Carsley is yet to manage a club in England on a permanent basis.
    He has worked as a caretaker at Coventry and Birmingham City before getting his current job with England’s youth.
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    He has achieved success with the England U21s having won the Uefa European Under-21 Championship in the summer.
    The young Lions beat Spain 1-0 in the final thanks to a goal from Curtis Jones and a late penalty save from James Trafford.
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    Arsenal loanee slammed as ‘a liability’ as Championship club’s fans beg club to ‘send him back’ after howler

    CARDIFF fans have begged the club to cancel Runar Alex Runarsson’s loan after his howler against Birmingham.The Arsenal loanee has been slammed as a “liability” after the Bluebirds’ 1-0 loss on Wednesday night.
    Runar Alex Runarsson has been slammed as a ‘liability’ by Cardiff fansCredit: Sky Sports
    The Arsenal loanee’s howler allowed Juninho Bacuna to score for BirminghamCredit: Sky Sports

    Juninho Bacuna scored the only goal of the game after flicking the ball over Runarsson’s head as he rushed out to close him down.
    The midfielder then feinted to go past the last defender before rolling the ball into an empty net.
    Runarsson’s efforts to deny Bacuna were criticised by fans on social media after the match.
    One supporter took to X, formerly Twitter, writing: “I hope we send Runarsson back, he’s a liability.”
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    Meanwhile, others commented after footage of the goal later went viral.
    Another fan added: “Didn’t realise just how poor the goal was wow.”
    A third supporter wrote: “Even worse than I thought it was last night.”
    One more supporter also fumed: “He better not start the next game.”
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    Cardiff signed Runarsson on a season-long loan in the summerCredit: Getty
    Runarsson has kept one clean sheet in eight appearances since joining Cardiff on a season-long loan in the summer.
    He has started each of the club’s last five league matches after displacing Jak Alnwick in Erol Bulut’s side.
    Arsenal signed the Iceland international in 2020, although he has since made just six competitive appearances for the Gunners.
    The 28-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, spent the last two seasons on loan in Belgium and Turkey with OH Leuven and Alanyaspor, respectively, More

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    Jamie Vardy set to miss ‘El Grassico’ and awkward Wayne Rooney reunion in huge blow to fans

    FANS are devastated with the news that Jamie Vardy is set to miss Birmingham vs Leicester which has been dubbed “El Grassico”.The match would have seen striker Vardy, 36, coming up against Rooney, who manages Birmingham.
    Both Vardy and Rooney appeared in court with their spousesCredit: Splash
    And it was Coleen that came out on topCredit: Splash
    It would have been the first time the two have met in a football setting since their wives went to court over the “Wagatha Christie” affair.
    The trial was a libel case in which Coleen Rooney accused Rebekah Vardy of leaking posts from her private Instagram account.
    And that saw fans dub the clash “El Grassico”
    But Vardy is set to miss the game due to suffering with a knee injury.
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    He hasn’t played since starting against Sheffield Wednesday on November 29 – the team he grew up supporting.
    Fan curiosity surrounding the off-field derby saw Sky Sports pick the game for TV.
    The game was handed a prime slot for Sky Sports’ Monday evening slot.
    Rooney has struggled since becoming Birmingham manager in October.
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    He replaced John Eustace following Birmingham’s American takeover which features Tom Brady as a minority investor.
    Rooney has won just twice so far in his 10 Championship games as he tries to implement a more attacking form of football at the Blues.
    Birmingham were sixth when Rooney took over but are now a lowly 16th and will be desperate to pick up some points to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle.
    Leicester, meanwhile, are flying high at the top of the Championship on 52 points, one ahead of Ipswich in second but 11 in front of third placed Leeds.
    Meanwhile Vardy has six goals and one assist in his 18 games for Leicester this season. More

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    Cardiff’s Perry Ng forced off after 13 minutes against Birmingham as ‘he couldn’t see’ reveals manager Erol Bulut

    CARDIFF’S Perry Ng was forced off against Birmingham because “he couldn’t see”, his manager has revealed.Erol Bulut made the revelation following Wednesday’s 1-0 home defeat.
    Perry Ng was forced off against Birmingham after just 13 minutesCredit: Rex
    Ng was withdrawn 13 minutes into the match after going down twice at the Cardiff City Stadium.
    It was unclear why the 27-year-old had gone down at first, with no collision taking place beforehand.
    He then went down for a second time on 13 minutes before walking to the sideline.
    Ng was seen pointing to his head whilst speaking to the Cardiff medical staff.
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    It was after that conversation that the full-back was taken off and replaced by Mahlon Romeo.
    Speaking after the match, Bulut explained: “He said he couldn’t see.
    “I don’t know what it was and I hope it is not too serious but he just said he couldn’t see. I must speak to the medical staff.”
    Birmingham went on to grab the only goal of the game after Ng’s exit, with Juninho Bacuna scoring in the third minute of first half stoppage time.
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    Cardiff manager Erol Bulut revealed Ng ‘couldn’t see’ before being taken offCredit: Alamy
    The defeat was Cardiff’s third in their last four matches and sees the Bluebirds drop three places to 10th in the Championship.
    Ng joined Cardiff from Crewe in 2021 and signed a new three-year deal with the club in August.
    He had missed just two league matches this season prior to Wednesday night, scoring three goals in 20 appearances across all competitions this term. More

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    Shocked fans chant ‘where the f***’s the referee’ as match official goes missing for THREE MINUTES in Championship clash

    REFEREE Matt Donohue stunned fans by disappearing for three minutes during the Championship clash between Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday.The match official raced down the tunnel shortly before the hour mark after appearing to suffer an equipment malfunction.
    Norwich’s win over Sheffield Wednesday was paused after the referee went missingCredit: Alamy
    Supporters could be heard singing “Where the f***’s the referee!” during the pause in play.
    After three minutes, Donohue returned to the pitch at Carrow Road to ironic cheers from the crowd.
    He was also reportedly met with chants of “he’s had a s*** from supporters.
    Reacting to the incident on social media, one fan wrote: “Farce at Norwich. Game held up due to a failure of referee’s ear piece. Embarrassed ref has run off the field into the tunnel.”
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    Norwich later confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that Donohue had left the field to have his radio replaced.
    Wednesday’s match was his 14th of the season and 12th in the Championship this term.
    Donohue previously officiated Wednesday’s home draw with Huddersfield in October and their loss at Hull on matchday two.
    Norwich had been leading 2-1 at the time through goals from Borja Sainz and Ashley Barnes either side of Bailey Cadamarteri’s equaliser.
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    Jonathan Rowe made it 3-1 to the Canaries after the match restarted to add to the struggling visitors’ woes.
    Norwich are now up to 11th in the Championship with the win, whilst Wednesday sit eight points adrift of safety in 23rd. More

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    Premier League icon’s son suffers horror injury with blood gushing down face after scoring brave far post header

    FORMER Premier League star Danny Cadamarteri’s son Bailey suffered a sickening face injury when scoring a spectacular header for Sheffield Wednesday.Blood gushed from the lip of Cadamarteri Junior as he rushed to celebrate his Championship equaliser with away fans at Norwich.

    Bailey Cadamarteri shrugs off his nasty-looking injury as he celebrates scoringCredit: PA
    Cadamarteri came crashing in to nod a temporary equaliser for struggling Sheffield Wednesday in the ChampionshipCredit: Alamy
    The striker, 18, needed treatment and a new shirt before play could resume.
    He appeared to crack his nose and maybe a lip on a home defender after leaping high to nod in at the back post following a flick from Michael Ihiekwe.
    One fan noted the hero’s bloodied lips as he posted: “Bailey Cadamarteri had to put his body on the line to score and was left looking like the Joker.”
    Another observer wrote: “Just give the lad player of the season now.”

    Bailey’s dad Danny, 44, launched his career with six years at Everton.
    He won three England Under-21 caps before featuring for several clubs including Bradford, Sheffield United and Huddersfield.
    Cadamarteri Senior quit playing in 2014 due to a knee injury after two years at Carlisle.
    The Owls had to avoid defeat at Norwich to move off the bottom of the table.
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    The Canaries, in contrast, were seeking the victory essential for reviving their play-off hopes.
    Cadamarteri junior’s soaring effort on 32 minutes cancelled out an early opener from Borja Sainz.
    But Ashley Barnes put the Canaries back in front soon after the interval and Jonathan Rowe made it 3-1. More