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      Gareth Southgate scouting Championship to fill England squad as number of homegrown Prem players drops to worrying low

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE will look to the Championship after an alarming drop in home-grown Premier League players.But he remains bullish over England’s Euro 2024 hopes after naming his 25-man squad for qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine next week.
      Gareth Southgate, left, plans to look at Championship players for his England squadCredit: Reuters
      Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell are two of the four English left-footed left-backs in the Premier LeagueCredit: The Sun
      In recent weeks, the number of English players starting Prem games has dropped to a season-low of 28 per cent.
      Boss Southgate said: “The numbers are not going up. The 28 percentage has happened in a couple of weekends in the last few weeks.
      “It has been around 32 but that’s down from 35 when I took over and 38 in the years before. The concern would be the most recent trend. 
      “We’ve got four left-footed left-backs in the league at the moment so we will have to start looking in the Championship.
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      “In January, there were 55 transfer deals and 44 were players that were either new foreign players coming in or the two that were here already —  Jorginho and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
      “Of the English deals a couple of those were second or third-choice goalkeepers, three were youth transfers — one was Romeo Beckham — so that’s 80 per cent of the deals coming in through January were non-English.
      “That impact of January has played out in the last couple of weeks. If we keep going in that direction it is clear that those numbers are going to drop again.”
      Southgate is positive about his chances of winning a major tournament with England but cited the case of Thursday’s opponents Italy, who missed out on the Qatar World Cup.
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      He said: “We know there is still a step for us to take. 
      “Yes, we want to be European champions and we’ve had a lot of experiences that could help us to get there but as our opponents next week found, you can very quickly be in trouble qualifying. 
      “We’ve got to respect the challenge that qualifying holds for us.”
      Malta and North Macedonia also await the Three Lions in Group C.
      Asked if he would have stayed on had he thought England could not win Euro 2024, he said: “I don’t know. But I do think we can — that’s the challenge.
      “The scenario of going to Italy, where we haven’t won for decades is a classic of the type of game that we’ve got to start winning. If we are looking for the next step to take as a team, that is it.”

      England play in a hostile Naples and have actually not won in Italy since 1961.
      One player lucky to be involved in the squad is Kalvin Phillips, who has made only two starts at Manchester City.
      Southgate explained: “Well, if you look in the Premier League, who can play as a single-pivot defensive midfielder?
      “You’d be talking Declan Rice and Phillips while Jordan Henderson has done it for Liverpool but it’s not his number one position.
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      “So yes, that’s why we’re picking Kalvin. We think he’s a bloody good player and to get in Man City’s team is much harder than to get into other teams.
      “Is it perfect he’s not getting as many minutes as we’d like? No. But we still think he’s the best option to help us.”
      Some eyebrows were raised by Kalvin Phillips’ inclusionCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea’s 19-year-old Xavier Simons – who played once for club – joins Hull on permanent transfer after loan spell

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      XAVIER SIMONS has joined Hull on a permanent deal from Chelsea.The 19-year-old signed for the Tigers on a season-long loan deal in September.
      Hull have turned Xavier Simons’ loan move into a permanent dealCredit: Rex
      Simons joined the Tigers in SeptemberCredit: PA
      But the Championship outfit have now paid an undisclosed fee to turn the temporary move into a permanent one.
      He has penned a deal until the summer of 2026 that includes the option of another year.
      Simons joined the Chelsea Academy in 2016.
      His only appearance for the club came in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Brentford last season.
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      Simons then joined Hull in September, where he has made six Championship appearances so far.
      An injury to Jean Michael Seri means Simons has started four out of Hull’s last five league games.
      Speaking after making Simons’ move permanent, Hull boss Liam Rosenior said: “I’m absolutely delighted to tie Xavier down on a long-term deal.
      “We’ve worked really hard to get Xavi to commit his future to the club and he’s a big part of my plans.
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      “He’s got undoubted potential and quality, an outstanding attitude and trains at 100 per cent all the time.
      “He’s got Premier League physicality and athleticism.
      “If we can help him improve his technical aspects and tactical understanding of the game, we’ve got a fantastic asset for the club.” More

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      Arsenal fans convinced ‘agenda is real’ as loanee Marquinhos given ‘disgraceful’ red card for Norwich

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      ARSENAL fans are fuming after loanee Marquinhos’ controversial red card in the Championship.The winger was loaned out to Norwich during the January transfer window to build up some experience.
      Arsenal loanee Marquinhos was sent off during Norwich’s draw with Huddersfield
      Arsenal fans raged after Marquinhos’ red card, claiming there is an agenda against themCredit: Rex
      The referee deemed Marquinhos elbowed his Huddersfield opponentCredit: Rex
      The 19-year-old started for the Canaries in Wednesday’s Championship clash at Huddersfield, which ended 1-1.
      But the Brazilian was sent off with a straight red card in the second minute of stoppage time after an aerial clash with Huddersfield’s Josh Ruffels.
      The referee deemed Marquinhos elbowed Ruffels and gave him his marching orders.
      That led to an enraged reaction by Gunners fans, some of which claim there is an “anti-Arsenal agenda” against them.
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      Some Gooners claim they get poor decisions in the top flight as well as harsh punishments and now there is a feeling that extended to Marquinhos.
      This comes after a raft of complaints by manager Mikel Arteta, who is often caught lashing out on the touchline during games, such as last month against Brentford when Ivan Toney equalised despite Ethan Pinnock looking offside in the build-up.

      The North Londoners have also been fined a total of £165,000 by the FA after being hit with three separate charges of failing to control their players in an orderly fashion.
      That was after recent games against Newcastle, Oxford and Manchester City.
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      One fan tweeted: “Marquinhos red. Anti-Arsenal agenda is real and beyond EPL. How is this even a red???”
      Another reaction read: “Never a red.”
      Another posted: “That’s disgraceful from the ref. This is never a red card. Feel for Marquinhos.”
      A third said: “That’s harsh !! The ref was eager to give it.”
      And this fan wrote: “WTF.” More

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      ‘Looks like an episode from The Office’ – Watch QPR stars’ priceless reaction to team-bonding ‘haka’ man

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      FANS have claimed Gareth Ainsworth’s “haka” team bonding session “looked like a scene from The Office” as his QPR stars appeared to watch on bemused.The 49-year-old, who has been dubbed “The Wild Thing”, left Wycombe after over a decade to take charge of the Championship club last month.
      Gareth Ainsworth is going all out to ‘enhance team spirit’ at QPRCredit: QPR
      A clip from his ‘haka’ team bonding session has gone viralCredit: QPR
      He then proceeded to perform the haka in full in front of the squadCredit: QPR
      QPR’s players seemed to watch on in disbeliefCredit: QPR
      He has only managed to muster one win from his first four games in charge and the Rs are still licking their wounds after being battered 6-1 at Blackpool on Tuesday to leave them sitting just three places above the drop zone.
      Former midfielder Ainsworth played 152 times for QPR and was twice caretaker boss at Loftus Road during the 2008-09 season.
      But now he is back in West London as the main man, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract, and is hoping to repeat the stunning success he enjoyed at Wycombe after leading them from League Two all the way to the second tier.
      Ainsworth was well-known for his unusual team-building methods at Adams Park and now he has attempted to “bring the boys together” and “enhance team spirit” with QPR by introducing his squad to an authentic Maori.
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      The move began with Bruce Simpson, who runs the Haka Rebuilding Company in London, performing the haka in front of the seated players.
      He then went on to talk about the culture and what it stands for and about “unity – kotahitanga” as well as explaining the meaning of the haka.
      Simpson said: “It’s just being there for each other and being part of a bigger group, not just yourself but everyone around you.”
      However, after the clip was shared by the club’s Twitter account, it soon went viral with supporters mocking the unusual scenes – and particularly the reaction of the players.
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      One comment read: “QPR is an absolute s***show. Look at their faces!”
      Another tweet read: “Looks like a episode from The Office.”
      Ainsworth went on to explain why he decided to introduce Maori culture to his players and staff, saying: “It’s not just about sport performances, but about the mental side, the inner side of who you are as a person.
      “He talked about the All Blacks and obviously the connection with how they’ve dominated the world of rugby union for so long with just a five million people island, and that didn’t start happening till the haka got introduced.
      “When he talked about what the haka means, I think some of the boys really got an education today.” More

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      ‘Newcastle’s 12 miles away’ – Fans reckon Ousmane Dembele is LOST as he’s bizarrely spotted at Sunderland vs Sheff Utd

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      FANS were all left scratching their heads after Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele was spotted in attendance at the Stadium of Light. Dembele has been linked with a transfer to a host of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle.
      Ousmane Dembele has been linked with a transfer to NewcastleCredit: Getty
      But bizarrely he was spotted at Sunderland’s Stadium of LightCredit: BBC via Twitter
      And it is his link to Newcastle which makes his visit to the home of Sunderland – the Magpies’ fierce rivals – such a bizarre one.
      Sunderland were in action against Sheffield United in the Championship as they looked to get back into the promotion chase.
      However, despite going ahead, the Black Cats fell to a 2-1 defeat following goals on either side of the break from the Blades.
      Regardless, some fans believe it was a simple case of him being lost.
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      One user said: “Someone should have told him Newcastle is another 12 miles away 😂.”
      A second user commented: “Bro doing side quests.”
      A third remarked: “Things I didn’t expect to see tonight: Ousmane Dembele at Sunderland-Sheffield United. Should have gone to Hull-Burnley, Ousmane.”
      One Sunderland fan joked: “I’m watching it. Lining him up as Amad’s [Diallo] replacement next season.”
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      Dembele previously celebrated Sunderland’s promotion at the end of last season after congratulating the club on Instagram.
      He appears to have a good relationship with Sunderland’s French owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, with whom he sat next to for the game. More

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      A chat with Man Utd’s Sancho left me excited about Carrick… but I never knew I’d be Championship top scorer for Boro

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      THE CHAMPIONSHIP’S top scorer has revealed how a chat with pal Jadon Sancho left him chomping at the bit to work for Michael Carrick at Middlesbrough.Former Arsenal forward Chuba Akpom started the season training with Boro’s Under-21 team.
      Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom is the top scorer in the Championship with 23 goalsCredit: Getty
      The striker, pictured with Jadon Sancho, was excited to work for Michael Carrick after a chat with his palCredit: Instagram
      He arrived at the Riverside in 2020 from PAOK but was soon shipped out back to the Greek club first by Neil Warnock and then left on the sidelines by Chris Wilder.
      Manchester United legend Carrick, 41, replaced the axed Wilder in October with Boro sitting 22nd in the table but has since transformed the Teessiders.
      They now sit in third, just three points off automatic promotion, with their incredible rise matched by striker Akpom.
      He has fired 24 goals in all competitions so far for Boro, including 23 in the Championship, making him the division’s top scorer.
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      Akpom has also become the first player since Bernie Slaven 33 years ago to score 20 or more league goals in a season for the club.
      He has now revealed that he knew things would get a lot better for him in the North East under Carrick after a talk with United winger Sancho – although he admits he never expected it to go this well.
      He told Slaven’s Total BS podcast: “No [I wasn’t concerned about Carrick’s arrival], I was actually really excited because a good friend of mine is Jadon Sancho at Manchester United and he had nothing but good things to say about the manager.
      “So I kind of knew already what to expect from the gaffer. But I didn’t know it’d go this well.”
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      Former England international Carrick won the Premier League five times and the Champions League during his Old Trafford playing career.
      He initially joined United’s coaching staff under Jose Mourinho.
      He was then part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom team before then getting a brief taste of management himself after the Norwegian was axed in November 2021.
      Newcastle-born Carrick had a three-game stint as caretaker, with Sancho part of the squad he took charge of.
      He led United to two wins and then a draw against Chelsea but left after Ralf Rangnick’s arrival last season.
      Michael Carrick has transformed Middlesbrough since his arrival in OctoberCredit: Getty More

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      Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield handed shock transfer BAN just days after Burnley punished for filing accounts late

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      NEIL WARNOCK’S Huddersfield have become the latest Championship club to be hit with a transfer ban.That’s just days after rivals Burnley were punished for also filing their accounts late.
      Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield have been slapped with a transfer banCredit: Alamy
      Warnock only returned to Huddersfield a month ago.
      He led them to victory in his first game against Birmingham.
      But they have since lost three of their next four games, failing to score once while shipping nine goals in the process.
      It means Huddersfield remain deep in the relegation mire, six points off safety.
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      But their season has now taken another turn for the worse.
      The EFL confirmed on Monday that Huddersfield are now under a transfer embargo.
      And they are unable to register any new players.
      Huddersfield, who are yet to comment, were late in submitting their annual accounts.
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      And they become the second side in as many days to be hit with a transfer ban.
      Championship leaders Burnley are also under a transfer embargo for exactly the same reason.
      But Vincent Kompany’s side insists they were late due a change in auditors.
      And although they accept the embargo, Burnley are confident it will be lifted next month.
      A statement read: “We would like to share with our supporters the disappointing news that the EFL are placing the club under an immediate transfer embargo.
      “We believe transparency in these matters is paramount and we want to explain why this has happened.
      “In our continued efforts to improve and move forward Burnley Football Club we made the decision to change our auditors in November and the transition has taken longer than we anticipated.
      “We can confirm that we have provided draft accounts and financial information to the EFL’s Club Financial Reporting Unit and we continue to have regular dialogue with the unit to ensure we remain as open and as transparent and answer any questions the League may have.
      “We believe the EFL will have no issue with the detail of our accounts other than their late submission and fully understand and support their position and efforts to sanction any club who fails to comply with any of their regulations.
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      “Both the Club and our new auditors are confident this can be resolved swiftly and we hope our submission will be made next month at which point the embargo will be lifted.
      “We once again wish to assure supporters this will have no detriment to the ongoing success and development of the Club as we move forward.” More

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      Birmingham pay tribute to lifelong fan Gary Williams who dies after brave battle with cancer and kidney disease

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      BIRMINGHAM have paid tribute to supporter of the year Gary Williams after he tragically passed away.Gary was given the fan accolade by the Blues at the end of last season at the club’s annual awards.
      Gary Williams passed away after battling cancer and kidney diseaseCredit: @BCFC
      Heartbreakingly, less than 12 months on from that special evening, he has now died following a battle with cancer and kidney disease.
      A statement on his Twitter account confirmed the news on Monday.
      It read: “It is with a heavy heart we announce Gaz sadly passed away on Thursday 9th of March, following his long battle with cancer, as well as kidney disease.
      “Anyone who knew Gaz, will know what a fighter he was, overcoming so much that life threw at him. Gaz’s fighting spirit remained till the very end and that strength and determination will always be an inspiration to everyone that knew him.

      “Gaz will be sorely missed by us all, however will be remembered always for his strength, love and compassion.
      “My mum and myself are currently organising dates for Gaz to be laid to rest, I will post on here when we have a date.
      “Thank you all for also supporting Gaz on this platform. And a huge thank you to our beloved Blues who gave us some great memories especially when he won supporter of the year, that was a night we’ll never forget.”
      Birmingham then released their own statement which read: “The Club are saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong Bluenose and Supporter of the Season, Gary Williams.
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      “All of our thoughts are with Gaz’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time. 💙”
      Former Birmingham midfielder Jude Bellingham, 19, was one of the first to pay tribute to Gary on social media.
      He said: “Kept right on til the end. Proper warrior, proper inspiration, proper Blues.
      “Rest in peace Gaz, you’ll never be forgotten.💙”
      Football fans also poured in with their own tributes to Gary as they remembered the lifelong Blues fan.
      One said: “RIP Gaz. Saddened to hear this. Such a fighter who was given so much encouragement and shown so much warmth by other Blues fans on here. It always appeared to give him a boost when he needed it.
      “Respect to the club and others inc Jude Bellingham for their generous actions 🔵⚪️.”
      Another added: “Gary epitomised our club anthem no matter what; he kept right on. RIP.”
      And an Aston Villa fan replied: “Many Villa fans connected with Gaz and it’s a sad day across the football divide.
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      “Gaz often spoke about his appreciation for the support he got from the ‘football family’ as he called it. He gave a lot back. And he truly was Blues through and through.
      “Missed by us all. RIP Gaz ❤️.” More