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      How Andy Carroll could have been playing in the Champions League knockouts THIS season – but failed a medical

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      ANDY CARROLL could have played in the Champions League knockout rounds THIS season – but failed a medical. The striker, 33, was a free agent when his short-term contract with West Brom expired in the summer.
      Club Brugge rejected the chance to sign Andy Carroll, who rejoined Reading insteadCredit: Getty
      The Belgian side qualified for the Champions League knockout stagesCredit: AFP
      Club Brugge were willing to offer him a deal, but they pulled out when they were unconvinced by his “insufficient” medical test results.
      That blew Carroll’s chances of making his Champions League debut.
      Now the Belgian giants are heading into the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time since its rebrand in 1992.
      Brugge finished second in Group B behind Porto but ahead of Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid, who surprisingly ended up with the wooden spoon.
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      Carl Hoefkens’ side won their first three matches this season without conceding a goal – including 4-0 away at Porto – and added two further 0-0 draws to qualify.
      They did it all with two-goal hero Ferran Jutgla up front – instead of the former £35million Liverpool flop Carroll.
      When the Brugge deal fell through, Carroll rejoined Championship side Reading in September on a four-month contract – taking the No2 shirt.
      He has scored twice in eight appearances in the second tier – rather than competing at Europe’s top table.
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      Carroll has struggled with various injury issues throughout his career which have had a significant impact on his fitness levels.
      He has not made more than 20 league appearances in a season since 2015-16, when he was playing for West Ham.
      The former England international left his honeymoon in Mexico to hold talks with Brugge, but then had to resume his search for a new club.
      Carroll married reality TV star Billi Mucklow earlier this year before jetting across the world.
      However, just weeks before the pair were due to tie the knot he was pictured in bed with two women after a night of drinking on his stag do in Dubai.
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      The Sun revealed how Billi was left devastated, telling pals she was in “no mood” to get married.
      But the pair reconciled before the big ceremony in Hampshire.
      Carroll is slugging it out in the Championship againCredit: Reuters More

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      Bristol City’s home clash against Sheffield United descends into mass brawl after horror challenge leads to red card

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      BRISTOL CITY’S 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United ended in ugly scenes as George Tanner’s shocking red card challenge on James McAtee led to a mass brawl.Nigel Pearson’s side were becoming increasingly frustrated in the sixth minute of added time as the Blades moved towards victory in the Championship match at Ashton Gate.
      Tanner was dismissed for the shocking challenge on McAteeCredit: PA

      McAtee was left poleaxed on the floor from the tackleCredit: Rex
      A brawl ensued between the two sets of players following the sending offCredit: PA
      And their anger boiled over when Tanner’s horrific late tackle sent McAtee flying.
      It was a dangerous lunge which left the Sheffield United man down injured on the turf.
      McAtee’s team-mates were furious with Tanner as both sets of players embroiled themselves in an angry altercation.
      And while Bristol City boss Pearson admitted after the match that it was the correct decision to send Tanner off, he also claimed the game was already out of control.
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      Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “What I said when I came off the pitch I don’t like it when the officials don’t give us true information in how long there is in the game.
      “The sending-off is a red card there is no doubt about that but I would suggest also that in the lead-up to that the control in the game was lost.
      “They wasted time very well, congratulations to them for doing that.
      “I would be happy if my team was able to sort of run the clock down in that way too.”
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      The result sees Sheffield United move up to third in the Championship, three points behind league leaders Burnley and just one off second place Blackburn.
      Meanwhile, Bristol City are down in 14th after a run of three games without a win.
      The division is incredibly tight after nearly three months of the season, with just nine points separating the play-off places from the relegation zone. More

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      Luton star Sonny Bradley involved in sickening collision and given oxygen before being stretchered off against Reading

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      LUTON captain Sonny Bradley suffered a horrific injury during the Championship clash against Reading at Kenilworth Road.Bradley, 31, fell awkwardly after going up for a header and that led to a nasty injury that required oxygen before he was stretchered off.
      Luton captain Sonny Bradley suffered a horrific injury against ReadingCredit: PA
      Luton star Sonny Bradley required oxygen before being stretchered offCredit: Getty
      The centre-back was replaced by Luke Berry shortly after the half-hour mark following a five-minute break.
      Birmingham star and SunSport columnist Troy Deeney led the tributes on social media by sending Bradley his best wishes.
      Deeney said: “Thoughts go out to Luton captain Bradley that doesn’t look good at all, wish him all the best don’t like to see that.”
      Fans flooded Twitter after the shocking incident and wished Bradley a speedy recovery.
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      One supporter tweeted: “That Sonny Bradley injury is absolutely horrific.”
      Another fan posted: “Watching Sonny Bradley land like that makes me feel sick. Can only hope it’s not as bad as it first looks.”
      A third wrote: “Speedy Recovery Sonny Bradley.”
      This fan said: “Thoughts with Sonny Bradley because legs absolutely should not bend that way, hope he’s ok.”
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      That one tweeted: “Sonny Bradley’s had no luck at all this season feel really sorry for him.”
      And a sixth said: “Looked very nasty for Sonny Bradley.” More

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      Hull City have ‘agreement in place’ to appoint ex-interim Derby boss and former player Liam Rosenior as new manager

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      LIAM ROSENIOR has “agreed” to become Hull City manager – six weeks after losing his role as interim chief at Derby.The former Tigers’ left-back, 38, is poised for his first permanent boss job.
      Ex-England U-21 star Liam Rosenior is expected to take over at HullCredit: Rex
      Championship strugglers Hull have been managerless since axing Shota Arveladze in September.
      And BBC Radio Humberside say Rosenior, 38, has verbally accepted the position ahead of signing a contract on Wednesday.
      The ex-Reading and Brighton defender watched Hull’s shock 4-2 win at Rotherham on October 22.
      And he’ll be hoping for more stability than he experienced at Derby.
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      Rosenior took over the League One newcomers in July after Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney left the job following relegation. 
      But despite being in a challenging position for the play-offs he was replaced by Paul Warne in late September.
      It was the latest and most dramatic step in new Derby owner David Clowes’ revamp of the club.
      In recent weeks Rosenior was in the running to manage Championship rivals Blackpool and West Brom.
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      But the Seasiders appointed Michael Appleton and the Baggies chose Spaniard Carlos Corberán.
      Rosenior will lead a Hull side spluttering in 18th place despite chairman Acun Ilicali’s heavy investment over the summer. More

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      Man Utd stars set for Middlesbrough loan transfers as Michael Carrick says he will use ‘relationship’ to his advantage

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      MIDDLESBROUGH manager Michael Carrick is planning to use his relationship with Manchester United to secure loan signings.The 41-year-old recently took over at the Riverside Stadium following the sacking of Chris Wilder – it is his first job in management.
      Micheal Carrick is hoping to bring in some players with Man Utd connectionsCredit: Getty
      And Carrick has revealed that he is hoping to use his connections to Man Utd to help him in the transfer market.
      When asked about this he responded: “It depends who is expensive or not, they [Man Utd] might give me a couple of cheap deals.
      “That’s part of football isn’t it? Who you know and building relationships and trust.
      “Hopefully we’ll take good players whether it’s to sign them or on loan and they’re going to trust us looking after their players.
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      “And players are going to want to come here and play because they see us doing things a certain way.”
      Man Utd already have Amad Diallo (Sunderland), Hannibal Mejbri (Birmingham), Ethan Laird (QPR) and Alvaro Fernandez (Preston) out on loan at Championship sides.
      United have a number of young and out of favour players that Boro could make a move for such as the likes of Brandon Williams, Axel Tuanzebe, Facundo Pellistri and Teden Mengi.
      Carrick spent 11 illustrious years as a Red Devils player where he won five Premier League titles and a Champions League.
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      Once he retired he was then appointed as a coach working under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before taking over as a caretaker boss for a few games once the Norwegian was sacked.
      But it was his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson who offered him advice before taking up the job at Middlesbrough.
      Carrick revealed: “I spoke to Sir Alex a few times. I probably spoke to him more since I stopped playing than I did when I was playing, I didn’t want to get too close to him when I was playing.
      “It’s well documented that he takes real pride in ex-players progressing into coaches or managers and takes pride in helping them as well.
      “He’s certainly done that for me and I really appreciate the advice he’s given me.
      Carrick also thanked Mourinho for handing him his first coaching role.
      Michael Carrick has sought the advice of Sir Alex FergusonCredit: PA More

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      Man Utd want Norwich’s Max Aarons in shock January transfer swoop to rival Diogo Dalot

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are weighing up a January move for Norwich’s Max Aarons.Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag is keen to bring in another right-back to rival Diogo Dalot with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s Old Trafford future in doubt.
      Max Aarons is wanted by Manchester UnitedCredit: Reuters
      Diogo Dalot has become United’s first choice right-back under Erik ten HagCredit: AFP
      United have been long-term admirers of Aarons and were one of eight clubs who scouted the 22-year-old at England Under-21s victory over Germany at Bramall Lane in September.
      Aarons, valued at £10million by Norwich, is one option in the frame with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong also understood to be under consideration.
      Ten Hag hailed first-choice Dalot’s improvement after the Portugal right-back produced an impressive display in the 1-0 Premier League victory over West Ham on Sunday.
      But the Dutchman also sent a clear message that he wants to bolster the competition in his squad with out-of-favour Wan-Bissaka playing just four minutes for United in all competitions this season.
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      Ten Hag said: “We need two good full-backs [on the left and the right] because we have a lot of games to come.”
      Highly-rated Aarons has made 19 appearances for fifth-placed Championship outfit Norwich this season.
      The Canaries rejected a loan bid with an option to buy from Borussia Monchengladbach for Aarons in August with ex-Norwich boss Daniel Farke keen to be reunited with him in Germany.
      The Carrow Road club also snubbed loan offers from Serie A duo Atalanta and Monza.
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      Everton, Wolfsburg and Marseille all enquired about him in the summer before – he has less than two years left on his contract.
      In the past, Euro giants Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Roma have all monitored his progress. More

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      Norwich star Marcelino Nunez wanted by LaLiga giants Sevilla in shock transfer just months after arriving at Carrow Road

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      NORWICH’S Chilean star Marcelino Nunez is being watched by Spanish giants Sevilla.The midfielder only joined the Canaries from Universidad Catolica in the summer but is already on the radar of the La Liga club.
      Marcelino Nunez has been an instant hit in the Championship for NorwichCredit: Alamy
      The Canaries would be stunned to lose Chile midfielder Nunez so quicklyCredit: Alamy
      Sevilla sent senior scout Jose Manuel Santos Hernandez to check out the 22-year-old, who has 10 caps to his name, last week as they consider a move for the South American.
      Meanwhile, Norwich may send Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah out on loan in the New Year after his progress has been stalled by injury.
      Derby County boss Paul Warne is a fan of the target man and tried to land him in his Rotherham days, so may go in again.
      Sevilla’s interest in Nunez comes as the Spaniards surprisingly struggle – lying fourth bottom in LaLiga and level on points with the drop zone.
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      Former Chile and Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli was appointed boss for a second time on October 6.
      That followed the sacking of Julen Lopetegui, who is now being targeted by Wolves for a THIRD time this month.
      The Spanish coach rejected the chance of his first taste of English football straight after Bruno Lage’s axing.
      But although Wolves looked at old boss Nuno Espirito Santo and QPR’s Michael Beale, they now hope to persuade Lopetegui to change his mind. More

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      Blackburn will KEEP in-demand Ben Brereton Diaz in January even if it means summer FREE TRANSFER as Prem clubs circle

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      BLACKBURN are planning to keep striker Ben Brereton Diaz in the window — even if he leaves for nothing in the summer.Owners Venky’s are happy to take the loss of a potential sale as the Chile hitman’s goals are giving them their best shot at promotion since they took over.
      Rovers believe keeping Ben Brereton Diaz can maintain their promotion fightCredit: Getty
      The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and several Premier League and foreign clubs are interested.
      Brereton Diaz seems sure to have several offers in the summer and Rovers will struggle to keep him then — but promotion is worth much more than a sale in January.
      Rovers have made an offer – thought to include a big pay rise – but Brereton Diaz is set to make his decision at the end of the season.
      Sevilla and Nice were keen in the summer.
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      And West Ham are amongst his Premier League admirers.
      But Rovers’ £15million valuation put some of his suitors off.
      The Hammers have also been linked with Midtjylland winger Gustav Isaksen.
      But the 21-year-old is now reportedly interesting Arsenal, as well as Newcastle.
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      Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta wants more attacking options out wide.
      And he’s sent scouts to watch Palmeiras youngster Danilo, plus Shakhtar Donetsk’s Mykhaylo Mudryk, who has already revealed he would be willing to join Arsenal. More