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      Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United have bounced back from play-off heartbreak to top of the Championship

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      WHEN Nottingham Forest keeper Brice Samba broke Sheffield United hearts with his hat-trick of saves in a play-off penalty shootout, Paul Heckingbottom got straight to work.There was no moping about at Bramall Lane from anyone feeling sorry for themselves.
      Paul Heckingbottom and Sheffield United used play-off agony to inspire them
      Brice Samba breaks Sheffield United’s hearts at the City Ground
      Instead Heckingbottom and his team reflected on how close they had gone to making an instant return to the Premier League after overcoming a slow start to last season under previous boss Slavisa Jokanovic.
      And there was a steely determination in the red and white half of the Steel City to hit the ground running this time around — and they have certainly done that.
      Reda Khadra’s winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Swansea on Tuesday night consolidated the Blades’ position at the top of the Championship.
      Heckingbottom told SunSport: “I must give credit to everyone since that shootout against Nottingham Forest in the play-off semi-final. That is where all the work started in regard to this coming season.
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      “Had we been sulking or slow to move on, we’d not have had as strong a start as we have had.
      “I just felt we had run out of time last season because we had such a strong finish. Had the season been a month longer, we’d have finished even higher than the fifth position we finally achieved.
      “Certainly at the City Ground, we just ran out of time. We managed to get ourselves from 3-1 down on aggregate to 3-3 and pushed for the winner.
      “Had we played another five or 10 minutes in that game, I’d have fancied us to have gone on to reach the final.
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      “We had nothing to worry about or anything to fear going into this season, other than maybe a hangover or feeling sorry for ourselves. That is what we guarded against.”
      Heckingbottom won the August SkyBet Championship manager of the month.
      And he said the club had to be shrewd during the summer — balancing the needs of strengthening the squad with keeping on top of finances being lowered due to a second season outside the top-flight.
      But he brought in Sweden centre-half Anel Ahmedhodzic from Malmo for £4million and worked the loan market by recruiting the likes of Man City duo James McAtee and Tommy Doyle, Ciaran Clarke from Newcastle and Khadra from Brighton.
      And the Blades chief was happy with a good pre-season build-up and said: “All those things were important in terms of getting us to hit the ground running.”
      Paul Heckingbottom won the SkyBet manager of the month for August
      I put it to Heckingbottom that three of their outstanding players so far have been striker Oli McBurnie, midfielder Sander Berge and Ahmedhodzic.
      Keeping Berge during the transfer window was as good and important as making a marquee signing — such is his influence on the team.
      Heckingbottom agreed and said: “It was huge to keep him. He is a great person, good player and if I am honest I expected him to go.
      “So I’m delighted I can still use him. He’s happy to be here. He has been fantastic with the way he has behaved. His performances have shown that.
      “He comes into training every day with a smile on his face, has trained harder than anyone and he’s reaping the benefits.
      “While he continues playing like that, there’s nothing you can do to stop someone coming in for him but hopefully that’s a while away yet.”
      McBurnie has been a frustrating player for Blades fans following his £20million move from Swansea in 2019.
      He had not scored a league goal since November 2020 until he finally netted against Luton last month, sparking three goals in successive games.
      His hard-working performances up top have been crucial.
      And Heckingbottom said: “I’m delighted for Oli.
      Oli McBurnie has been on fire for the Blades after a tough couple of years
      “He had bad luck when we took over. He suffered more injuries than most last season.
      “We could’ve seen the form he has been showing much earlier. 
      “To get himself fit, he has worked hard and when he has got over his broken foot he has had a few more weeks training and we’ve given him minutes in the under-21s and then when he has been called upon he has hit the ground running.
      “That is all the hard work he has put in and what the staff have put in.”
      Ahmedhodzic has been rock solid in defence and is looking like a bargain buy.
      The Blades chief said: “I’ve been impressed with him. I was convinced he’d be good otherwise I’d not have tried to get him.
      “The way he has stepped into it and hit the ground running. It’s a big bonus.
      Reda Khadra celebrates his stoppage-time winner at Swansea
      “He can be pleased and proud of himself. One of the reasons he came and we liked him, we felt he was someone who can kick on and play at an even higher level than this.
      “He’s determined to do that, we’re determined to do that and hopefully we can both achieve it.”
      Heckingbottom knows that the one thing you do need to get out of the Championship is consistency in a league that is consistent for being inconsistent.
      And he said: “The margins are so fine. There are clubs that will have a lot of talent in their squads — and we’re talking Premier League talent — who are not quite on it that day who will get turned over.
      “We’d like to think we have some good players but our best attribute is having that mentality who try to win every game and keep our standards high so when we do get beat a team will have to play well.
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      “The ultimate goal of every team is to get promoted with the prize at the end of it but we’re a long way from thinking about that, never mind talking about it.
      “We’re breaking the season into little phases and concentrating on getting the consistency of performance. Hopefully we will be there at the back of the season.” More

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      Oscar Estupinan idolises ex-Fulham and Wigan ace Hugo Rodallega and targets Premier League with Hull

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      OSCAR ESTUPINAN would love to follow in the footsteps of his Colombian hero Hugo Rodallega by playing in the Premier League.The Hull striker grew up getting up early on Saturday to watch Rodallega in his pomp at Wigan and Fulham – as well as enjoying all the other top-flight English games.
      Oscar Estupinan has been on fire since signing for Hull with seven goals so far
      Ex-Wigan and Fulham star Hugo Rodallega was an inspiration to Estupinan
      And now the 25-year-old ace is hoping to get there with Hull.
      He has got off a flying start in English football — plundering seven goals already after just NINE games after signing from Portuguese club Vitoria.
      Estupinan told SunSport: “Hugo Rodallega was an inspiration and played in the Premier League.
      “I had the honour of playing alongside him at Denizlispor in Turkey when I was on loan there a couple of years ago.
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      “He is a great ambassador for Colombian football and I look up to him a lot.
      “It’s a dream come true to now be in England myself because, as a kid, I watched the Premier League. I used to wake up quite early on a Saturday because of the time difference between Colombia and the UK.
      “I was always so excited because it was the best thing to do after a whole week at school.
      “It’s now a privilege to be playing in this country too.
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      “My intention is to work hard for Hull and get them into the Premier League. Like every player, it would be a dream to play in that division.”
      His superb form won him the SkyBet Championship player-of-the-month award for August.
      Even Estupinan himself has been surprised by how well he has hit the ground running since moving to England.
      But he said: “The help of my team-mates has been crucial and the manager as well. I’m getting to know them much better now, and they’re getting to know me too.
      “It all helps. It helps become more natural for us to flow together.
      “The season has started well. I wasn’t expecting it. The hard work has always been there so this has just been the result of it.”
      Estupinan has been impressed by the standard of English football’s second tier.
      And he said: “For me the Championship is strong. For the first few games, it was hard because it’s a physical league. 
      “The pace of the games are incredible. You must to be fit to be able to maintain your rhythm in all the games. The players are good, the teams are very competitive.
      “You must work hard to be able to perform each weekend. The games are challenging. Every team in this league is tough. I’m impressed.”
      Estupinan says Hull were one of the teams he liked watching play in the Premier League so was fully aware of the club and its history before joining.
      He said: “I watched many games of Hull when I was a kid. When I heard about their interest, I was already familiar with the club and know that some South Americans have played for this club in the past. 
      “I was so excited to come here and although I’m having to get used to a new country and culture the football routine is the same. You train, you go home and rest. That is the same everywhere so I haven’t had to get used to anything new there.”
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      Estupinan believes the Tigers have enough talent in their squad to compete for a promotion spot but understands that it will be a challenge. After a good start, Hull go into today’s clash at Swansea on the back of three straight defeats.
      He added: “We must improve slowly but surely but our ambition is to get into the Premier League, that must be our aim.”
      Oscar Estupinan is loving life in England with Hull City
      Oscar Estupinan is thrilled to have got off to such a great start at Hull More

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      ‘This should be illegal’ – Fans all say same thing as Andy Carroll takes No2 jersey at Reading following free transfer

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      THE world of football has been shaken to its core after learning that a striker will wear the No2 shirt. Typically the shirt number is worn by a right-back, but as this becomes more and more obsolete the tradition of a player having a number relevant to where they play is a dying art.
      Andy Carroll holds a Reading shirt after signing for themCredit: JASONPIX
      Carroll’s shirt number is sure to entice some resentment from football puristsCredit: Twitter
      In his number reveal video, Carroll revealed he allowed his kids to decide his new numberCredit: Twitter
      And Reading FC have taken this to the extreme with new signing Andy Carroll.
      Perhaps ironically, Carroll has signed for Reading for the second time in his career, though this time his contract will only run until January.
      The 33-year-old’s squad number was announced via a clever video reveal on The Royals social media pages.
      But fans didn’t seem to take too nicely to his shirt number, with the ‘football purists’ among them left seething.
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      One user said: “This should be ILLEGAL,” while a second echoed this sentiment adding: “Ayo, this is mad.”
      Some praised the reveal but remained shocked at the number, with one user saying: “That’s one of the funniest squad number reveals I’ve seen. Dreadful, but funny.”
      Other users had some optimism over it with another user saying: “This could be historic,” only to receive a response saying: “History for the worst transfer ever.”
      The aforementioned football purists were outraged at the number reveal: “this cannot be allowed surely, the erosion of the sanctity of the modern game in front of our eyes…. what next?”
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      Another fan quipped: “Glad he has come in to fix the CB issue!”
      Carroll was a free agent after leaving West Brom at the end of last season.
      The former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker was involved in a car crash last weekend, where he wrecked his £130,000 Mercedes. More

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      Andy Carroll re-joins Reading in free transfer on tiny contract five months after finishing West Brom contract

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      READING have re-signed Andy Carroll on a short-term deal.The former Liverpool striker, 33, has signed a contract until January – the club has announced.
      Andy Carroll scored two goals in eight games in his first spell at Reading last season
      Carroll scored two goals in eight games for the Royals last season before leaving to join West Brom in the January transfer window.
      But he was subsequently released by the Baggies and was a free agent over the summer until Paul Ince decided to snap him up.
      Carroll trained with Reading this week and impressed Ince with his leadership skills before he was offered a four-month deal.
      Ince said: “I am really pleased to have Andy with us.
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      “Of course, a striker of his prowess gives us power and a battling presence at the top of the pitch and I’m sure that will translate into goals.
      “However, Andy’s arrival also offers us another strong voice in the dressing room. He is a leader, both on and off the pitch, and having trained with us all this week I can already see the positive influence he will have on the players around him and the boost he will no doubt give to the fans.”
      Reading Head of Football Operations Mark Bowen said: “Andy is a striker with proven pedigree and so much experience in the game.
      “It is also so important that he is a player who already knows this club and the fight we will need to show to rise to the challenges we expect to face during the course of this season.
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      “And, above all else, Andy is a top-class professional. So I’m delighted he has chosen to return to Reading!”
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      Huddersfield line up shock move to bring back David Wagner after sacking Danny Schofield with Sean Dyche also linked

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      HUDDERSFIELD are lining up a shock move to bring back David Wagner after sacking boss Danny Schofield.Wagner, 50, is the top target but the Terriers are also considering experienced top flight manager Sean Dyche.
      Wagner is the top target for an exciting reunion with HuddersfieldCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Ex-Burnley manager Sean Dyche is also on the shortlistCredit: PA
      German Wagner took them into the Premier League for the first time in their history in 2017 — and then kept them up.
      However, he left in 2019 with the club bottom of the top flight.
      Since leaving, the 50-year-old has managed Germans Schalke and Young Boys in Switzerland. 
      West Brom tried to tempt him back to England last year but a return to Yorkshire could appeal.
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      A source close to the club said: “Wagner is the top target. He is out of work, is a proven winner here and would be a huge favourite with fans.”
      Schofield was sacked after 69 days in charge following the  2-1 defeat by Wigan on Tuesday.  
      Ex-Burnley chief Dyche and Belgium No 2 Anthony Barry have also been linked.
      Dyche was sacked by long-time club Burnley in a last-ditch bid to beat the drop.
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      It did not work and the Clarets were relegated to the Championship.
      Dyche had been in charge at Turf Moor since 2012, leading them to two Premier League promotions.
      The 51-year-old remains out of work. More

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      West Brom sign Erik Pieters on free transfer as Steve Bruce finishes spending spree two weeks after end of window

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      STEVE BRUCE says he has finally ended his summer signing spree – two weeks after the transfer window closed.The West Brom boss completed his eighth signing of the summer when former Stoke City and Burnley defender Erik Pieters agreed a one-year deal with the Hawthorns club.
      West Brom have signed Erik Pieters on a one-year dealCredit: Twitter @WBA
      The 34-year-old left-back won 18 caps for Holland and impressed Bruce so much during his six weeks training with the Baggies, he has added Pieters to his squad for Wednesday’s local derby against Birmingham City at the Hawthorns.
      Pieters’ signing follows hot on the heels of another incoming free transfer, after former Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic committed himself to Albion on Monday.
      But the Baggies’ boss says that’s his final Brucie bonus until the window opens again in January.
      “That’s us,” confirmed the West Brom boss.
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      “I’m not going to scour anymore.
      “Erik has been with us for six weeks but he has joined us permanently now.
      “He might have a part to play earlier than most signings because he’s been training with us, so we know where he’s up to.
      “His fitness levels are very, very good. He’s got good experience, he’s looked after himself. He’ll be a good acquisition.”
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      Pieters promised Baggies fans: “I have been working really hard to keep myself in shape and it’s up to me to show what I still have in me.
      “I want to prove I’m worthy of being signed and still have what it takes to play at this level.
      “From the first day I walked in the lads have been great with me and I’ve had a really good relationship with the manager.
      “I feel really at home here – I’m ready to go.” More

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      West Brom snap up former Celtic star Tom Rogic on free transfer after leaving Scots in summer

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      WEST BROM’S new Aussie arrival Tom Rogic admits he felt the urge to go walkabout this summer after 10 trophy-laden seasons at Celtic.The 29-year-old Australian international midfielder has joined Steve Bruce’s Baggies as a free agent after agreeing a one-year-contract, with a further year’s option in the club’s favour.
      West Brom have confirmed the signing of Australian international Tom RogicCredit: Getty
      The former Celtic midfielder left the Scottish champions in the summerCredit: Getty
      Rogic signed for the Baggies as a free agent on an initial one-year dealCredit: Getty
      The roving midfielder with an eye for goal enjoyed the perfect farewell from Celtic, clinching his SIXTH Scottish title to clock up a staggering personal haul of 16 domestic trophies in Scotland.
      But he admits the challenge of returning Albion to the Premier League appealed to his sense of adventure.
      Rogic confessed: “I’d been set in one place for quite a while and I was looking for a new challenge and a change of scenery.
      “I certainly have that here, so I’m really looking forward to getting started.
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      “I have a lot of fond memories from my time at Celtic and I was fortunate to have the perfect send off there.
      “But I was looking for a change of scenery and a fresh challenge. 
      “It was important for me to take my time and make sure my next club was the right club. I had some time to reflect and I now feel refreshed and re-energised and excited about the future.
      “I’ve met all of my new team-mates and they seem like a great group of guys.”
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      Rogic says he has been busy swotting up on his new teammates since Bruce made his move for him last week.
      He said: “Things moved pretty quickly to be honest. I spoke with the manager and I spoke with my agent and here we are. 
      “It was a pretty broad chat with the manager. He told me lots about the club, the team and what football is like here.
      “Since I heard about Albion’s interest in me I’ve tried to watch as much of them as possible and I’ve been doing my research. 
      “I think it’s fair to say the team hasn’t got the results the performances have warranted.
      “The most exciting thing for me now though is the future and playing my part in what I hope will be a really successful team.”
      Rogic made over 250 appearances for CelticCredit: Getty
      The 29-year-old has been capped 51 times by AustraliaCredit: Getty More

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      EFL confirm Championship, League One and League Two to return from tomorrow after postponement following Queen’s death

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      THE EFL have confirmed that its fixture schedule will resume from tomorrow following the death of The Queen.The Queen died peacefully aged 96 on Thursday – marking an end to her historic reign and making her son, Charles, King.
      The EFL have confirmed that its fixtures will resume from TuesdayCredit: EFL
      The Championship, League One and Two is returning tomorrowCredit: Rex
      The Premier League and EFL postponed all matches last weekend as Scotland followed suit along with a host of other sporting events to pay tribute to Her Majesty.
      Now the EFL have announced that its midweek fixture list will go ahead as planned.
      A statement read: “The EFL fixture programme will return as scheduled from Tuesday 13 September, with tributes to be paid to Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II at grounds around the country.
      “A minute’s silence will be held before matches, with black armbands to be worn by participants, flags to be flown at half-mast and the National Anthem to be played in stadiums.
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      “With a national policing plan now in operation, the League and Clubs will continue to work with forces in respect of any challenges that may emerge regarding policing of specific fixtures.
      “Consideration to individual circumstances will be made on a case-by-case basis, in line with standard match Safety Advisory Group (SAG) protocols.”
      Meanwhile, football chiefs and police are continuing talks today over a number of potential match postponements for this coming weekend.
      The state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II has been confirmed for Monday 19 September in London.
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      A host of police officers from across the country are set to be drafted into London to work on it and the other events surrounding the send-off with millions of mourners due to descend on the capital.
      As we reported last week, that means that Sunday’s Premier League games between Brentford and Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool and Manchester United vs Leeds are among those being discussed about being postponed or moved.
      Up in Scotland, Rangers’ Champions League fixture at home to Napoli has been delayed for 24 hours and away supporters have been banned.
      SunSport understands that England’s representatives in Uefa’s competitions this midweek will not be affected, with Arsenal’s Europa League clash in North London against PSV on Thursday still scheduled to go ahead.
      But talks are still ongoing regarding the domestic top-flight clashes for next weekend.
      Switching games to the opposition’s venue has already been discussed, but they have also hit major roadblocks.
      For example, Liverpool’s neighbours Everton are also playing at home on Sunday, meaning Chelsea switching their game to Anfield is highly unlikely.
      Meanwhile, a huge police presence is expected at Old Trafford for the game between heated rivals United and Leeds, which would also stretch resources.
      And EFL fixtures are also at risk in and around London with Millwall, QPR and Watford due to be hosting matches.
      But officials are still “hopeful” that a positive conclusion could be reached.
      A National Police Chiefs Council spokesperson said: “We will work with football clubs to try and ensure that, where possible, football fixtures can take place safely when balanced against the requirement to support national events and deliver day-to-day policing.
      “This is a unique situation and we are working closely with everyone involved.”
      More to follow… More