EFL

DARYL DIKE hopes to graduate from this season with two more first-class honours.The first is to represent the USA at this winter’s World Cup and the second to finish the campaign as a Premier League striker.
Daryl Dike wants to play in this winter’s World Cup for the USA and become a Premier League star with West Brom
West Brom ace Dike, 22, graduated with a first-class honours degree in finance this summer at the Southern New Hampshire University.
And now his focus is on football honours. The USA are competing in Qatar in a group including England, Wales and Iran — while the Baggies are chasing top-flight football.
Dike heralds from Oklahoma and has three goals from eight internationals.
And he told SunSport: “As I kid I had two dreams — to play in the Premier League and compete in the World Cup.
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“Hopefully I’ll be doing one this year and then next year the other.
“It’ll also be exciting to play a team like England at a World Cup so that’s one game we’re looking forward to.
“I’d love to come back from Qatar and be able to make a few jokes and banter with everyone here!”
Dike fulfilled a promise he made to his family by completing his degree after pulling out of university to chase his football dream.
Daryl Dike graduated with a first-class honours degree in finance this summer
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He said: “Before I got drafted to Orlando City, I was in the University of Virginia and the MLS has a programme for players who leave school early to help fund college.
“So I told my parents I’d continue my education while I was playing.
“Every day I was doing my classes online and this summer I completed it.
“The hardest part was keeping on top of it as I had to do it in my own time.
“Football has also been huge for me but the importance of education has always been ingrained into me and my siblings.”
Daryl Dike and our man Justin Allen share a laugh ahead of the new season
Daryl Dike is in good spirits ahead of the latest Championship slog
Dike hopes to eventually get into “green finance” as he sensibly plans for life outside football because “I clearly cannot play until I’m 75.”
And the striker believes all footballers should get another string to their bows.
He said: “I always knew what I wanted to do. I’ve always been a numbers guy so it figured I should do something that involves that.
“A lot of players have more time than you think so it’s good if you can think about giving yourself something else to rely on because you can’t be kicking a ball forever.”
West Brom will be relying on Dike to score the goals that help them win promotion but he has endured a frustrating start to his Hawthorns career.
Dike has only managed 84 minutes of competitive action since signing from Orlando City in January.
He picked up a hamstring injury that curtailed his season against Peterborough in his second appearance. 
Daryl Dike only managed two appearances for West Brom after getting crocked
Former boss Valerien Ismael — also Dike’s manager during his loan spell at Barnsley two years ago —was sacked by the Baggies in February as the team floundered. 
Dike said: “Valerien was a good manager and different from my previous ones. His playing style was direct and it was demanding on workrate.
“And that’s where he helped me most — the mental side of things, to have that fighting mentality to go every game from minute one to minute 90 and be pressing physically.
“It was frustrating I was on the sidelines and couldn’t help the team but it only fuelled my hunger and desire for this season.”
Dike has enjoyed working under Steve Bruce this summer and believes his man-management skills are second to none.
He said: “I’ve never been at a club where they’ve changed managers like that and you can have doubts at that point.
Steve Bruce is a great man-manager. He and his staff have done a good job in personalising stuff for each individual and they realise each and every player isn’t going to just fall into a system.”DARYL DIKE
“It’s not that you think you can’t adapt to a new manager but you get little doubts because ultimately you want him to like you.
“But also you think, ‘This is a top manager, this is a manager who has done so much in English football and been around the game a long time.’
“Then you’re excited you might get an opportunity to play under him because you realise this is a man who had a great playing career and achieved so much.
“He’s a great man-manager. He and his staff have done a good job in personalising stuff for each individual and they realise each and every player isn’t going to just fall into a system.
“They’ll see you’re good at some things but maybe not so good at others and give you tips to work on your strengths and weaknesses as well as how you can fit into the system and get the best out of yourself. That’s something Steve Bruce has done a good job at.”
The Baggies are among the favourites to get promoted after an underwhelming season last time round, which saw them finish tenth and eight points behind the play-off spots.
Considering West Brom were alongside Fulham as favourites to go straight back up, it was an awful campaign.
Daryl Dike has a moment to relax in training ahead of the new season
They had the best Championship defence, only conceding 35 goals, but scored only 52.
On paper, their attack is one of the best with Dike, Jed Wallace, Karlan Grant, Grady Diangana, Matt Phillips and Jonathan Swift.
And Dike said: “No matter who plays, it’s a great group. Everyone offers something different — craftiness, goalscoring, lots of other things. We’ve so many options and you need that in a Championship season where you’re playing Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday all year.”
Dike, during pre-season, has struck up a good understanding with Wallace, who was signed this summer from Millwall.
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And the striker said: “I’ve never seen someone run as much as he does. He just runs, runs and runs. He’s always pressing and doing everything. He also crosses the ball well and he’s a good passer of the ball.
“Anything in front of me, it makes it very easy and he gets on the ball, is good with the pass and can score as well.” More

WHENEVER I see managers like Luton’s Nathan Jones it makes me glad I’m now only watching football in my armchair rather than getting het up on the touchline.Nathan doesn’t just bite his nails but knuckles too. I’ve never seen anything like it — and it makes me think, ‘Thank goodness, I’m retired.’
Watching Nathan Jones makes Neil Warnock feel glad he retired
Neil Warnock runs his rule over the Championship this season
The emotional rollercoaster you go through in the Championship is like nothing else and it’s a league where you can toss coins all week and still struggle to pick out who will get promoted. 
There are no certainties and that is why it’s one of the world’s best leagues.
This season is going to be yet another wide-open race and here, exclusively for SunSport, I run the rule over every single team.
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MY TOP SIX
NORWICH
THE Canaries are best equipped and with Dean Smith as manager they’ll definitely be there or thereabouts. 
He knows the Championship inside-out, having done a great job at Brentford before leaving to take Aston Villa back into the Premier League. 
Dean has a good squad, knows what they need and the club will back him because they have the parachute payments that give relegated clubs a huge advantage.
The Finnish lad Teemu Pukki will be massive. He has again been loyal by staying after relegation, as he did a couple of seasons ago. Norwich will create chances and Pukki will put them away.
Championship title oddsFrom Sky Bet

Norwich 4/1
Watford 11/2
Middlesbrough 7/1
Sheffield United 7/1
West Brom 8/1
Burnley 9/1

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Teemu Pukki will massive once again in the Championship for Norwich
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new Brazilian girlfriend, 35, days after divorce
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BURNLEY
WITH the Sean Dyche era over, the club have gone for an up-and-coming manager in Vincent Kompany. He’s recruited an excellent assistant in Craig Bellamy, who is full of energy, and they’ll do a good job together.
They’ve let some players go that in all honesty needed to leave. It was a much-needed freshening up.
You must give Burnley credit for signing Scott Twine from MK Dons. I watched him destroy Plymouth by scoring a hat-trick and thought, ‘Wow, this lad is going to be a good player’ so I told two managers higher up, ‘Sign this lad.’
Scott Twine is a great signing for Burnley from MK Dons
Vincent Kompany is a good up-and-coming manager
Neither did so well done to Vincent and Craig for doing so.
He plays behind the striker, has a great touch and good finish. The scouting is obviously spot on at Burnley.
Another interesting signing is the midfield lad, Josh Cullen, from Anderlecht. He had done well during his loan spells from West Ham at Charlton and he even captained Anderlecht, which tells you lot.
WATFORD
IT’S always a risk when a club decides to appoint a manager like Rob Edwards from the lower leagues. 
He did a great job getting Forest Green promoted from League Two but the Championship is different gravy and a hard league if you’ve not prepared right. I’m genuinely interested to see how he gets on.
Watford have taken a risk by appointing Rob Edwards from the lower leagues
Watford go through so many managers but it has in the past worked for them — although not so much in the last year.
They plummeted. Although they had good players, the spirit wasn’t there. And the one thing you do need in the Championship is spirit.
WEST BROM
STEVE BRUCE took over from Valerien Ismael and will have been expecting a lot more from the team towards the end of last season. In the end, it was just about getting through to the summer and starting from scratch.
I expect them to be far better this time with a pre-season under their belts and players like Daryl Dike getting back to fitness. They should be pushing the top group.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
EXPECTATIONS will be higher after Paul Heckingbottom enjoyed  a free ride when he took over last season and so narrowly missed out on taking the club back to the Premier League.
It was a smart move from Paul to bring in Stuart McCall as his assistant because he has seen it all.
They’ve a good group of lads. Billy Sharp up front isn’t getting any younger but he continues to surprise me and is playing the best football of his career if they keep him fit.
Anel Ahmedhodzic cost Sheffield United £4m from Malmo
It sounds as though the Swedish lad they signed from Malmo for £4million [Anel Ahmedhodzic] is the type of ball-playing centre-half Paul likes and midfielder Ciaran Clarke, on loan from Newcastle, certainly is comfortable in possession too.
I expect the Blades to be up there.
MIDDLESBROUGH
I HAD expected my last club to go up because they were the best team out of all those pushing for a play-off spot last season — but fell short as they didn’t have the striker. 
They brought some in during January but it didn’t really come off for them.
They’re going to have to score more goals so will be looking to sign a striker. 
An evening with Neil Warnock JOIN record breaking legendary manager Neil Warnock as he talks you through his unique and astonishing career, in front of a live audience for the first time.
Record number of games as a manager, 16 clubs and eight promotions, from non-league to Premier League and a thousand stories along the way that have never been told.
No holds barred ,delivered in Neil’s unique and imitable style with stories that will make you laugh, cry, gasp and laugh again
Hear about Neil’s early career as a player in the lower leagues, making over 300 appearances, and what then inspired and drove him on to succeed and reach the highest level in management.
Watch footage with Neil of some of the highlights and lowlights of his career, on the large interactive screen, that will allow you to be part of the evening in a very unique and innovative way.
Learn all about the explosive moments and controversial incidents, taking you right back to when they happened , giving you the full inside story.
There will be lots of special guests joining Neil, former players and staff that have shared the good times and bad with him over the years.
Hear about his thoughts on coming up against Fergie, Pep, Jose and Klopp and who he rates as the best of them all.
He might also have one or two things to say about referees he has crossed paths with!
A unique evening of chat and entertainment in the company of one of football’s biggest characters, who has spent over 60 years of his life in the game and has a lot to tell you about.
Book you tickets HERE to watch this colourful character of the game at the following places across the country.
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SURPRISE PACKAGES
LUTON
MAKING the play-offs last season was remarkable — but even if Nathan Jones leads them to a mid-table finish it will have been another good year.
They have a good dressing room — which you need in this league — and will be looking to ruffle a few feathers.
Cauley Woodrow from Barnsley is a good attacking signing for them.
COVENTRY
MARK ROBINS is one of the unsung heroes of the Championship and I’m surprised he’s still at Coventry because you’d have thought a club higher up would have taken him by now.
He’s one of the brightest managers in the league but just goes about his business. He doesn’t get flustered and has a way of playing. I do like Viktor Gyokeres up top for them. Mid-table, pushing for the play-offs, is a realistic expectation.
MILLWALL
BENIK AFOBE has signed permanently from Stoke. He is a striker who I’ve looked at a few times and thought, “Wow, if he can put his mind to it … what a player.”
Then other times I’ve thought he has been terrible. 
Championship odds… to get promotedFrom Sky Bet

Luton 8/1
Coventry 7/1
Millwall 15/2

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Benik Afobe has found the perfect manager for him in Gary Rowett
Gary Rowett seemed to get the best out of him and Afobe needs that type of manager: one who will allow him some freedom but drum into him to do the basics.
Gary is a good manager and I expect the Lions to be mid-table, possibly pushing for the play-offs.
THE CLUB TO WATCH
SUNDERLAND?
ONE of my biggest regrets was not taking the Sunderland job when I was at Notts County. 
They’re a sleeping giant and have one of the league’s best strikers in Ross Stewart.
Ross Stewart will be one of the best strikers in the Championship
I was told last year to go and watch this Sunderland striker called Charlie Wyke, who would soon be available. 
I went to watch him but ended up saying, “One of the best strikers in the league has got to be Stewart.”
I like his movement, unselfishness and attitude.
That is one department where they don’t need to strengthen.
He’s good as any striker in the Championship.
RELEGATION BATTLERS
ROTHERHAM
THE Millers are always going to have a fight on their hands with the league’s lowest budget and they’ve lost top-scorer Michael Smith and centre-half Michael Ihiekwe to Sheffield Wednesday as well as striker Freddie Ladapo to Ipswich.
Paul Warne has developed as a manager and has stayed loyal to the club. He’s always ready to roll his sleeves up.
I’ve a lot of time for Rotherham and Warney. They’re a club that is backs against the wall and they’ll be odds on to go down.
Championship relegation oddsFrom Sky Bet

Rotherham 6/4
Birmingham 13/8
Reading 13/8
Wigan 9/4
Blackpool 10/3
Bristol City 10/3

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Paul Warne’s back will be up against the wall again this season
BLACKPOOL
THE SEASIDERS punched above their weight last season and their home form is going to be paramount.
They’ve good players there like Jerry Yates and Gary Madine, one of my old strikers.
They do have a strike force. It’s whether they can tighten up at the back a bit to keep away from the bottom part of the table.
HULL
THEY’VE a new owner in Acun Ilicali and their Georgian manager Shota Arveladze. I didn’t like how they ended their relationship last season with Grant McCann, who did a good job there.
Hull have brought in players from abroad but let’s see how they do on a dark and wet Tuesday night in Humberside.
READING
I CAN’T see them having a great season because of the state of the club and the squad at Paul Ince’s disposal. They only stayed up last season because of Derby’s points deduction.
THE REST
BLACKBURN
JON DAHL TOMASSON had a brilliant playing career and was a top Danish international but management is different.
Jon Dahl Tomasson has taken over at Blackburn
He isn’t someone who has seen much of the Championship so it was a gamble bringing him in to replace Tony Mowbray.
It’ll be fascinating to see how he does at Ewood Park.
QPR
MY old club have taken a bit of a gamble in appointing Michael Beale but seem to have done their homework.
They’re not paying silly money out and will be giving youth a chance.
If Michael can get them on a bit of a roll, Loftus Road will be electric.
BRISTOL CITY
CAN’T see them pushing top half although I’ve always liked Andreas Weimann.
He’s a natural striker I’ve tried to sign and is always good value for at least 15 goals a season. They need to tighten things at the back.
HUDDERSFIELD
LOSING Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien — their two best players — will be too much for them to recover from this season.
Gary Schofield has taken over from Carlos Corberan and knows the squad but it’ll be tough to replicate what they did last time out by reaching the play-off final, losing to Nottingham Forest.
PRESTON
RYAN LOWE’S first full season at Deepdale is likely to be steady. I can’t see them struggling because they’ve a good home record and a nucleus of a good side.
CARDIFF
STEVE MORRISON has gone down the younger route for players and has brought quite a few in, including experienced ex-Brentford midfielder Romaine Sawyers, 30, from West Brom.
They need to get them blending quickly. Mid-table I reckon.
SWANSEA
JOE ALLEN has returned to the Liberty and fits nicely into their brand of football.
I can’t see the Swans pushing because Championship teams work out how to play against them.
They have an attractive style and don’t change it — but there are certain times you need a Plan B.
Joe Allen is back home at Swansea
BIRMINGHAM
A LOT will depend on the new owners and how new manager John Eustace does. They certainly could do with some stability.
WIGAN
LEAM RICHARDSON has a good squad and I expect them to be comfortable mid-table. Will Keane up front should score goals for them.
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STOKE
COULD possibly push for a play-off place but I think it’ll be another mid-table finish for the Potters.
NEIL WARNOCK was talking to SunSport’s JUSTIN ALLEN
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