Championship

HAYDEN HACKNEY admits it was bittersweet getting his European Championship call-up 24 hours after Middlesbrough mentor Michael Carrick was axed.He also revealed the encouraging final words his former boss had for him ahead of him flying out with the Young Lions to try and retain their Euro crown.Hayden Hackney is part of the England U21 European Championship squadCredit: AlamyMiddlesbrough sacked Michael Carrick as boss this weekCredit: GettyThe 22-year-old Hackney, who SunSport exclusively revealed is being tracked by Tottenham, is in Slovakia preparing for England U21s’ first group game against Czechia on Thursday.The midfielder has become one of the most-sought after players in the Championship after being handed a chance to blossom at his hometown club under Carrick.Hackney is chomping at the bit now to make his mark on the international stage after being selected by Lee Carsley – though he admitted that the news of the Manchester United legend’s sacking soured it a little.He said: “I found out Thursday I was in the squad and told my mum and dad and yeah I was buzzing.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL“But also, yeah I was gutted about Michael Carrick to be honest. He’s done loads for me.”He put his trust in me to play the majority of games and helped me so much with everything really. I can’t thank him enough for that.“I text him straight away wishing him all the best in the future and he replied wishing me good luck for going away with England. It was nice.“It’s probably the first manager that I’ve lost and I just wanted to thank him for everything. But now a new guy will come in, whoever that may be, and as a squad we’ll go from there.”Most read in FootballBest new sign-up offersSunSport exclusivesHackney finds himself alongside some big names from huge clubs all across the Continent in the England set-up.But the shy-Teessider admitted that after Carsley initially helped him settle into the camp, he now feels that he belongs on this stage too.Five EFL Championship stars destined for the Premier LeagueHackney, who previously represented Scotland U21s before switching and making his Young Lions debut in 2023, said: “Lee Carsley was welcoming when I first came in.”When I’m on a training ground, he gives me tips and he’s just put his trust in me to go out there and play.“Oviously, when I first came in, I didn’t know what to expect but once the first session was out of the way, you get into it. It’s really good. We’re all good mates and really get on with each other.“Now my main goal at this tournament is just to play really. Grasp the experience, take it all in and do as well as we can and obviously the main objective is to win it.“That’d be unbelievable. Obviously there’s a long way to go but if we could do that then it’d be special.”And he doesn’t have to look far for much inspiration.Fellow Teessider, Boro man and big pal Dael Fry, 27, won both the U17 European Championship and U20 World Cup with England.Hackney added: “Dael at Boro still speaks a lot about his time with England. He says how much he enjoyed the whole experience of it all, all the competitions and some of the players he played with have gone on to do some unbelievable stuff.“He has just said how it’s a great experience and to savour it.”Read More on The SunEngland kick-off their Euro campaign against the Czech Republic on Thursday.They then face Slovenia three days later and finish the group stage against Germany on Wednesday 18 June with all of the Young Lions’ matches being broadcast on Channel 4.Hayden Hackney celebrates after scoring against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final last seasonCredit: Getty More

LEEDS are offering Dan James a new two-year deal — but talks are still going on.The former Manchester United winger, 27, has a season left on his contract at Elland Road.Dan James is set for his biggest season yet for LeedsCredit: GettyThe pacy ace notched excellent stats as the Whites won the titleThe Welshman was loaned out – to Fulham – the last time Leeds were in the top flight.But James was a star performer in 2024-25 as Leeds picked up 100 points to nick the Championship title on goal difference from Burnley.Elland Road manager Daniel Farke’s position has still been under scrutiny.But club chiefs are now expected to back the German – including with a hefty transfer budget.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe German will reportedly be handed up to £100million to spend this summer.Newcastle’s Nick Pope is rated as a top contender to come in between the sticks.Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher was understood to be on the Whites’ radar.But Brentford won the race for the Irishman on a deal potentially worth £18million.Most read in FootballNewcastle keeper Nick Pope is a prime Leeds targetCredit: GettyBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKIt follows concern over a dip in form for Leeds stopper Illan Meslier in recent months. Meanwhile, Elland Road legend Kalvin Phillips is being linked with a return to his hometown club.Inside Leeds stars’ wild title celebrations as Bamford and Ampadu ‘leave Burnley fanbase in meltdown’ with karaoke songThe former England midfielder, 29, has returned to parent club Manchester City following a mediocre campaign on loan with now-relegated Ipswich.But for now he is recovering from Achilles surgery that could rule him out until August. More

FORMER Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey is being targeted by Mexican giants Pumas as Cardiff City dither over offering him the full-time manager’s post.Ramsey took the reins at Cardiff City Stadium in April and oversaw the Bluebirds’ final three Championship matches of the season.Aaron Ramsey is a shock target for Mexican side PumasCredit: GettyBut two draws and a defeat condemned them to relegation to League One.The 34-year-old’s playing contract expires at the end of the month and the club’s plans for Ramsey remain a mystery.Any hopes they had of appointing Nathan Jones ended on Friday when the boyhood Cardiff fan signed a new deal at Charlton. Ramsey came through the ranks at Cardiff before joining the Gunners in 2008 for just under £5m.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHe went on to make over 350 appearances and win the FA Cup three times, featuring alongside Mexican star Carlos Vela for a number of years.Now he has a chance to continue playing in Liga MX with Guadalajara-based Pumas – Vela’s hometown club.Ramsey, who has not played a game for Cardiff since March, is a target for the Pumas, according to Mexican TV reporter Andres Vaca.He told the Seleccione2 podcast: “I don’t know if they’re selling me smoke, they just told me that Aaron Ramsey is going to join Pumas. Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”They told me it’s almost a confirmation.”The Mexican club tried to tempt Vela, 36, to reverse his decision to retire last week.Devastated Aaron Ramsey and Cardiff City flops forced to rush to AWARDS NIGHT just moments after being relegatedPumas coach Efrain Juarez, who played alongside Vela for the Mexican national team, revealed his attempt in a FOX Sports interview this week.Their attention has now turned to Ramsey, who made it clear that he wanted to return to the pitch when he assumed interim charge of Cardiff.He said in April: “I am just taking these three games.”I’m still recovering from a hamstring operation, I’m still in the middle of rehab and I’m focused on getting back to full fitness.” More

RAVEL MORRISON has pleaded for clubs to ignore his wild child past.The former Manchester United wonderkid is targeting a move back to the Championship – but wants to put the past behind him.Ravel Morrison has pleaded for clubs to ignore his wild pastCredit: GettyMorrison was hailed as a whizz-kid of the Old Trafford youth system when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge but he quickly earned the reputation of an unreliable ‘bad boy’.He made what turned out to be disappointing move to West Ham and then Lazio, where he only managed eight appearances in 2015.Loan spells at Birmingham City, QPR, Cardiff City, Sheffield United, Derby County and Mexican side at Atlas also didn’t work out.But Morrison is wiser than the kid who got into trouble, ended up in court and left Old Trafford on a sour note.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBack in September, the 32-year-old signed for the 14th club of his rollercoaster career – Precision FC in Dubai in the UAE second division. He told The Athletic: “Even now, I can guarantee that if I signed for a club in England, the headline in all the newspapers would be something negative.“If another player at United gets into trouble, he’s always ‘the next Ravel’. Anything that anyone does wrong gets linked to my name. “It pops up on my Instagram and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, not again… how many years is this now?’.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAt West Ham, there were occasions when he missed training because he had been up all night on his PlayStation.And he was accused of attitude issues, timing problems and appeared in court for witness intimidation and criminal damage while at Man Utd in 2011.Ravel Morrison reveals he used to steal boots from Man Utd dressing room to sell and feed his family Morrison was also once fined £7000 by the FA for alleged homophobic comments made on Twitter.But homesick Morrison has set his mind on moving back to England and having one last crack at the second-tier again, where he has already played for six different sides.He said: “I do believe I can play in the Championship — easy. The frustrating thing is I’m not getting the opportunity.It all stems from my own mistakesMorrisonThe Athletic“My agent has spoken to a lot of sporting directors, chief scouts and heads of recruitment, and we’ve got really close to an agreement.“Then they get the manager’s opinion and it becomes, ‘Ah, but he’s done this, he’s done that’, and they are speaking about things that happened when I was a kid. “Time has moved on, it’s over a decade ago. But it’s crazy sometimes how people don’t move on.”“So many people have formed an opinion about me, but those opinions are based on things that happened 10 to 15 years ago. “I’m 32 now. I’ve played football around the world and had a good career. I’m not a kid of 16 or 17 anymore.“But then again, I have to look at myself because it all stems from my own mistakes. I did some things that were wrong and I can’t blame anyone but myself.”He has won 20 caps for Jamaica since switching allegiances in 2020.Morrison, who shares the same hometown as Marcus Rashford in Wythenshawe, has his eyes set on returning to where it all began at Carrington.Read More on The SunSpeaking on the Undr the Cosh podcast last month, Morrison said: “I’ve got my B licence now – I did it in the summer.'”I want to get into some type of coaching after I retire. That’d be good. I’d like to go back to United!” More