Championship

JUDE BELLINGHAM returned to St Andrew’s tonight to a raucous reception.The England superstar came through Birmingham City’s academy before breaking into their first team aged just 16.
Jude Bellingham applauds his old fansCredit: Getty
Bellingham, 19, played 44 times for BluesCredit: Rex
The England star waves at the adoring St Andrew’s crowdCredit: PA
He impressed at the heart of Blues’ midfield, making 44 appearances before departing for Borussia Dortmund in a £25million deal.
The in-demand midfielder, 19, has retained his affection for his boyhood club – returning tonight a hero after his Three Lions World Cup exploits.
Bellingham was greeted pitchside 15 minutes before Birmingham’s Championship clash with Reading – high-fiving awe-struck ballboys before waving and blowing kisses to the crowd.
Decked out in a grey hoodie and a warm black jacket, the all-action star tipped for the top was brilliantly received by his old supporters, who gleefully welcomed him home.
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He then took a picture with the Birmingham mascot, before shaking hands with lucky fans sat in the front row.
Prior to his appearance, he said: “I never got the chance to say goodbye, until tonight! I’m back to finally say thank you.”
Such was the impression that Bellingham left on Blues, that they decided to RETIRE his No22 shirt after his departure.
The move was roundly mocked at the time, although England fans recently joked that his incredible performances since have vindicated the decision.
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Bellingham gives a thumbs up to the crowdCredit: PA
An affinity for Blues clearly runs in the family, with Bellingham’s younger brother Jobe on the bench for John Eustace’s side this evening.
Jobe, 17, has already made 15 appearances for Birmingham.
Blues went into tonight’s match 14th – but only five points off the play-offs.
Tonight’s starting XI features Manchester United loanees Hannibal Mejbri and Tahith Chong – as well as SunSport columnist Troy Deeney.
Despite being happy at Dortmund, Bellingham has been linked with all of Europe’s heavy hitters.
He is set to have his pick at the end of the season, with Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid all believed to be keen.
Upon Bellingham’s St Andrew’s return, many Blues online wished he could be out there playing.
One tweeted: “You bringing your boots?”
With Dortmund not back in Bundesliga action until January 22, Bellingham has been enjoying some time off this week.
He went to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland after returning from Qatar – posing with fans and riding on rollercoasters during his night out.
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Bellingham watched Birmingham beat Reading 3-2 on Friday night, with a Deeney double and a Chong effort firing them to victory.
He proudly took pictures on his phone when little bro Jobe came on in the 76th minute – clearly thrilled to see his sibling playing for his boyhood club.
Jude Bellingham played 44 times for BirminghamCredit: PA
Jobe Bellingham, 17, is currently on Blues’ booksCredit: Getty More

THE cold weather is taking its toll on the EFL fixture list with a number of games already postponed.Currently, SEVEN matches in the English Football League have already fallen victim to the freezing temperatures.
Seven games have already been called off due to the weatherCredit: Getty
Sunday’s Championship game between Luton and Millwall is OFF.
This comes despite the Hatters calling on their supporters to come down to Kenilworth Road in a bid to clear the snow from the pitch.
Confirmed Postponements
Championship
Millwall v Luton
League One
Peterborough v Shrewsbury
League Two
AFC Wimbledon v Stevenage
Hartlepool v Newport
Northampton v Carlisle
Stockport v Gillingham
Tranmere v Crawley

In a statement, Luton said: “Following a pitch inspection conducted by an EFL match official, and with the weather conditions forecast between today and Sunday morning, the Hatters’ Sky Bet Championship fixture against Millwall has been postponed.
“We would like to thank all supporters who had been in touch following our request for volunteers to help clear the snow from the Kenilworth Road pitch on Saturday morning.
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“Your offers to help have been so much appreciated, but now will not be required.
“Any rearranged date for the fixture will be confirmed when agreed between the two clubs and the EFL, with information on arrangements for tickets purchased shared in the coming days.
“Please keep warm, stay safe and we look forward to seeing you here on Boxing Day for the visit of Norwich City.”
In League One, Peterborough’s home game with Shrewsbury has also been postponed following an inspection on Friday.
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But League Two has been hit the hardest, with five games already called off and potentially more to follow.
Games at AFC Wimbledon, Hartlepool, Northampton, Stockport and Tranmere have all fallen to the freeze.
Wimbledon said: “A big thank you from the Club to all those volunteers who helped us to cover the pitch earlier this week.
“We did everything to get the Stevenage game on, but below zero temperatures all week meant that it was called off today.”
In better news, Northampton have confirmed in a statement that their home match with Carlisle has been rearranged.
The fixture will now be played on Tuesday 20th December, kicking off at 7.45pm. More

COVENTRY CITY have reached a last minute agreement with former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to keep playing at CBS Arena until the end of the season.The stadium was previously owned by rugby club Wasps, but was sold to Ashley after they entered administration in October.
Coventry City will be able to play at CBS Arena until the end of the seasonCredit: Reuters
The Sky Blues reached an agreement with Mike Ashley’s Frasers GroupCredit: PA
Coventry had hoped to purchase the stadium themselves, having twice had to move out before despite the fact the 33,000-seater arena was built especially for them in 2005.
But it was instead sold to Ashley, 58, after City’s prospective new owner Doug King’s £25million bid was adjudged to have come too late.
Coventry were subsequently handed an eviction notice by Ashley’s Frasers Group earlier this month – despite signing a 10-year agreement with Wasps last year.
A deal has now been agreed for Mark Robins’ side to stay until the end of the season, with a view to a longer term arrangement.
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In a club statement, Coventry confirmed: “The licence that we have signed will run until May 2023 and is subject to EFL approval, which we expect to be granted on Tuesday.
“This represents a positive step forward for the club and its fans. We now look forward to establishing a constructive working relationship with Frasers Group.
“Coventry City will now commence amicable talks with Frasers Group with a view to agreeing a longer-term licence for the club to play at the Arena.”
The Sky Blues previously had to spend the 2013-14 season at Northampton Town’s Sixfields – as well as two years between 2019 and 2021 at Birmingham City’s St Andrew’s.
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Their agreement with Frasers Group comes in the nick of time, with FIVE of their next six matches set to be played at home, weather permitting.
The 15th-placed side host Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday, before a home clash with West Brom on the 21st.
During the previous uncertainty, an FA Youth Cup match was moved to Leamington Town FC last Saturday.
Coventry will be back at home this weekendCredit: PA More

QUEENS PARK RANGERS have confirmed Neil Critchley as their new manager.The Championship club have been on the hunt for a new boss after Michael Beale quit for Rangers.
QPR have appointed Neil Critchley as their new managerCredit: Getty
That was just a month after he claimed “integrity and loyalty” meant he could not leave Loftus Road for Wolves.
Now QPR they have turned to 44-year-old Critchley to continue their charge for promotion.
After penning a three-and-a-half year deal, the new manager said: “I am very excited and can’t wait to get started.
“It is a huge honour for me and I would like to thank the owners, Les Ferdinand and Lee Hoos for entrusting me to lead the club.
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“I would also like to thank Paul Hall and his staff for the hard work they have put in during the interim period.
“Now I am looking forward to getting to work with the players and staff. I already know some of the players from working with them previously and I am aware of a number of them, having followed their careers from afar.
“There have been some good foundations laid here and now it is my job to work as hard as I can to build on that.
“We want to move the club forward and ensure we are competing at the top end of the Championship table.”
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QPR chairman Amit Bhatia added: “We are absolutely delighted to bring Neil to the club.
“Following the abrupt departure of Mick Beale it was important that we made a swift appointment, but also that we took the necessary steps to ensure it was the correct appointment. In announcing Neil today, we have achieved that. 
“We have made a good start to the season and, in the same way Mick built on the strong work of his predecessor Mark Warburton, we wanted somebody who we felt certain could continue that progress for the club.
“We also wanted to ensure we appointed someone who shares the footballing philosophy of our club, and in Neil and his team we also feel confident we have achieved that.
“I’m excited for Neil to get started immediately and wish him the best of luck.” 
Critchley is joined by Mike Garrity, who has left his role as assistant head coach at Lincoln City, and Ian Brunskill, who was previously Critchley’s assistant head coach at Blackpool.
Having started his coaching career in Liverpool’s youth set-up, he took charge of Blackpool for his first senior job in 2020.
He led the Tangerines to promotion via the League Two play-offs in his debut campaign.
Critchley was rewarded with a new long-term deal and continued his success by guiding the Bloomfield Road outfit to a midtable finish upon their return to the Championship.
However, he departed Blackpool in June to become Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Aston Villa.
But that move did not last long as he was axed along with Gerrard in October after a miserable start to the Premier League campaign.
Meanwhile, Beale left QPR after just six months in charge but had led the Rs to sixth-place in the second tier.
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But their promotion hopes suffered a blow earlier as they were thrashed 3-0 at home to Burnley.
Now Critchley will be hoping to get off to a winning start when his new team head to Preston next Saturday. More