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      Emre Tezgel, 16, is the Stoke City wonderkid who has been compared to Harry Kane and won same award as Jude Bellingham

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      IN the Potteries, they are getting excited about a teen sensation that’s set for football stardom.Emre Tezgel, who only turned 16 on September 19, is being primed for first team football at Stoke City, although one suspects his best years might be away from the Championship club.
      Emre Tezgel is the teen sensation at Stoke City compared to Harry KaneCredit: Phil Greig

      The exciting forward has already been compared to Harry Kane by the club’s academy director, Gareth Owen.
      Most recently, the England U17 shone on the international stage for his country in the Syrenka Cup.
      Aside from scoring four goals, he was named as Player of the Tournament – following in the footsteps of Jude Bellingham, who achieved the same feat in 2019.
      It might not be long for Stoke fans have a new hero to cheer on.
      KANE COMPARISONS
      Last season, he was given his debut in the U18’s and managed seven goals in 23 games in his first full campaign.
      Although an impressive start, this season Tezgel has flown out of the traps and matched that tally of strikes.
      And he mixed it against the big boys, recently netting an impressive hat-trick against Liverpool.
      His progress has impressed Owen, who compared his pro to England star Kane.
      “He’s a Harry Kane-type centre-forward,” Owen told Stoke-on-Trent Live.
      Tezgel scores goals, holds the ball up well and has been a revelation in Stoke’s U18 sideCredit: Phil Greig
      Tezgel could be getting his hands on plenty of silverware in the years to comeCredit: Barry Smith / Rocester FC
      “That gets bandied about but his movement is good, he can hold the ball up and he is decent in the air. His main attribute, though, is his finishing and that’s what good centre-forwards have.
      “He plays like a seasoned pro, pulling off at an angle, giving little nudges to the centre-back and making space. It’s great to have that bank of knowledge already at his age.”
      A BIGGER STAGE
      It’s not just in the competitive world of U18 Premier League football that Tezgel has excelled in.
      At the beginning of the month, he was part of an England U17 team that competed in the Syrenka Cup.
      He played all three games in the tournament, memorably coming to life against Portugal in the semi-final.
      With the Three Lions losing 1-0, he came off the bench and netted a double to fire England into the final.
      He scored another brace in the final against Netherlands, but couldn’t stop his side losing 3-2.
      However, on a personal level he was awarded Player of the Tournament – the same honour Jude Bellingham received in 2019 for his star turn.
      Bellingham, now, is a full international and regular for Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.
      FUTURE PLANS
      For the moment, though, it’s goals that are on Tezgel’s mind as he looks to continue on his incredible start at youth level.

      Captain Tezgel receives the Don Hill Memorial Trophy after Stoke City beat Rocester FC 3-2Credit: Barry Smith / Rocester FC

      “Personally speaking, I can say I did a good job (last season) but I’m always looking for more, looking to score more goals next season,” he said.
      “I’ve played in higher age groups all my life but I can say it is especially difficult stepping up to the under-18s. It took me a while to get used to the physical challenge. When your speed alone is not enough as a striker, you have to use your mind in the final third.
      “Next season I want us to finish top of the league and I want to score more goals and push myself for the next age group. I want to play football at the highest level in league and international tournaments.”
      Wayne Rooney’s Derby to be handed nine point deduction this season over FFP breaches sending them bottom of Championship More

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      Troy Deeney says dad drove him around as a child with a bloke locked in the boot

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      THREE people made me who I am today.My mum, Emma Deeney, the strongest person I know.
      Troy Deeney says: ‘I am wary of saying I had an unhappy childhood because there were a lot of great things in it, but there was alcohol and there was ­violence’Credit: The Sun
      Deeney as a young player at WalsallCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      My dad, Paul Anthony Burke, who decided I take my mum’s surname because of his reputation around Birmingham.
      Even though my dad could be ­violent and abusive towards me and Mum and was in and out of jail most of his life, he looked after me, taught me how to be a man, how to play football and I knew he loved me and I loved him.
      Colin Hemmings is my biological father.
      He left me and Mum when I was a baby and I’ve had very little to do with him since.
      Until recently, just hearing his name made me feel angry.
      Rejection like that leaves a mark on a kid and on a man — and I’ve been trying to deal with it most of my life.

      In the period of my life when I drank too much, a decade or so ago, I thought I drank because I couldn’t deal with death
      But the root of my unhappiness actually came a lot ­earlier.
      I think of Colin Hemmings as a sperm donor. Nothing more.
      That was the only contribution he made to my life.
      And when my father passed away, from cancer at 47, who was the DJ at his wake? Colin Hemmings.
      It was incredibly weird.
      He came up to me a couple of times and I was thinking, “This is really not the time.”
      A lot of things I’ve done are because of rejection.
      I put this hard mask on, this tough guy who fights and brawls and went to prison and says the Arsenal players don’t have “cojones”, all because I don’t want to be rejected again.
      I am wary of saying I had an unhappy childhood because there were a lot of great things in it, but there was alcohol and there was ­violence.
      I was lucky because the man who I will always call “Dad” took care of me when my biological father rejected me.
      My dad was also a career ­criminal and, yes, there were ­occasions when he was violent towards Mum and me.
      Dad spent his life in and out of jail.
      When I was a young player at ­Walsall, Dad came to watch me play at Northampton Town.
      My dad could be ­violent and abusive towards me and Mum and was in and out of jail most of his life, he looked after me, taught me how to be a man, how to play football and I knew he loved me and I loved him.Troy Deeney
      When I came out of the ground he was waiting for me in a blue Mercedes.
      I knew he didn’t have a blue Mercedes.
      He didn’t have a car. He didn’t even have a licence. He had never passed his test. He had never taken his test.
      I assumed the Mercedes was ­“borrowed” but I got in and we set off down the M1.
      He had the music turned up loud and everything was cool and we chatted about the game.
      Then we stopped to get ­petrol. The music went off and I heard this banging coming from behind.
      “Don’t worry about that,” he said.
      “What do you mean?”
      “Look,” he said, “there’s someone in there but I’m going to drop him off in a bit.”
      He mentioned the name of a bloke who was a small-time drug dealer on the estate, Chelmsley Wood, eight miles east of Birmingham city centre.
      “What?”
      “He owes my pal some money so I’ve taken him on a little journey for the day,” Dad said.
      “I’ve fed him and that and he’s fine. We’ll drop him off later and I bet he pays.”
      There was me trying to make a career at Walsall and we are driving around with a bloke in the boot of the car.
      Rejection like that leaves a mark on a kid and on a man — and I’ve been trying to deal with it most of my life.Troy Deeney
      To him that was normal.
      I’ve seen him referred to as a drug dealer in some of the profiles written about me and maybe he did do a bit of that, but if he did it was only small-time.
      He sold knock-off stuff here and there, I think he probably acted as a kind of enforcer for people now and again.
      He didn’t care about the law.
      He ignored it and then, every so often, it caught up with him.
      He never wanted money. He enjoyed a tear-up. He enjoyed creating fear.
      But, despite everything, he was still my superhero. And he looked after me when I needed it.
      When my mum was 17 she worked as a carer at East Birmingham ­Hospital.
      There was a social club there and one Friday night a friend persuaded her to go to the disco there. That’s when she met Colin Hemmings.
      He was a hospital porter and a part-time DJ. He asked her to a party afterwards.
      He already had a baby with someone else but Mum didn’t know that until much later.
      After they had been going out for some time, Mum found out she was expecting me, and while she was pregnant he was offered a job as a DJ in Ibiza.
      There was me trying to make a career at Walsall and we are driving around with a bloke in the boot of the car.Troy Deeney
      Mum took me over there to see him for my first birthday but she soon found he had been ­seeing other women so she split up with him.
      I have only had two or three encounters with Colin Hemmings in my 33 years. He left my mum when she was 19 to fend for herself. That’s not a man to me.
      Has it caused me pain over the years? 100 per cent.
      I have spoken to psychologists about how that has impacted my life in regard to my children and why I used to drink so much.
      Some months later, Mum met Paul Anthony Burke at a house party.
      His way of chatting her up was taking her hand, ­putting a Rizla in her palm and making a spliff. Really romantic.
      He had only been out of jail for a few weeks after serving time for GBH.
      My dad did some bad things.
      And he did some bad things to me too but he took me on when my ­biological father didn’t want me.
      He looked after me, taught me how to play football, taught me how to defend myself, taught me right from wrong, taught me how to ride a bike, how to swim.
      Mum and Dad stayed together for eight years until eventually Mum had had enough. I don’t think it was the life of crime that wore her down, more the continued absences.
      When she tried to end the ­relationship he didn’t take it well.
      He looked after me when my biological father rejected me. He was a career criminal and he was violent. But he was still my superhero.Troy Deeney
      He told her that if she took me and my brother, Ellis, and sister, Sasha, he’d batter her in front of us. We were living at my nan’s in Stechford.
      One day, when I was nine, Mum came to pick me up from school but when I came through the gates I realised something was wrong.
      Dad was there and he was shouting and yelling. I hurried over to Mum’s car and got in the back seat with Ellis.
      She pulled away but Dad jumped in a white van and first tried to block us in then followed us, right on our back bumper the whole way.
      As we pulled up outside my nan’s, Dad leaped out of the van, ran over to our car and flung the doors open.
      He grabbed me and my brother and sister, marched us over to the van and locked us inside it.
      All we could do was stare out of the window at what was unfolding.
      Mum told me some of the rest. Dad jumped into her car and threatened her.
      He thought she had been laughing at him at the school. She had been smiling to a friend.
      Dad put his thumbs in the ­corners of her mouth and started pulling them so it stretched her face. “I’ll give you a f***ing smile,” he said.
      “You can have a Joker’s smile.”
      Then he got hold of her head and slammed it against the window. Mum’s brother, Uncle David, came out and remonstrated with Dad.
      He got out of the car and fronted up to Uncle David, who said he didn’t want to fight him.
      He grabbed me and my brother and sister, marched us over to the van and locked us inside it.Troy Deeney
      He got my mum and walked her to the house.
      It was a traumatic time for all of us.
      The council allocated us a new house.
      Mum was terrified Dad would find out where. We kept it a secret.
      About six months after they split, she went out with someone else.
      I stayed over at Nan’s with Ellis and Sasha.
      Dad came round in a taxi. He was wired, like he was hopped up on something.
      He loaded the three of us into the back. He had somehow managed to find out where we were living.
      We pulled up outside our flat.
      Mum opened the door and her expression turned to pure fear.
      He started going from room to room. “Who were you with last night?” he asked.
      “Have you spent the night on your own?”
      “Yeah, I have,” Mum said.
      “You’re a liar,” he shouted.
      He called Mum all the names under the sun. I was crying my eyes out.
      I told him to calm down but he was out of ­control.
      “I’m going to kill your mum,” he said to me and pointed to each of us kids in turn, “and then I’m going to kill you and I’m going to kill you and I’m going to kill you.”
      He began flinging punches at my mum.
      I tried to get between them and he punched me and knocked me over and hit Mum again.
      I got up and he punched me again.
      He said to Mum she had to take him back.
      Every time she said no, he hit her.
      I jumped up, getting in front and he hit me.
      That seemed to go on forever. It was mayhem
      Dad was wired. He said: ‘I’m going to kill your mum’ and pointing to us kids in turn: ‘Then I’ll kill you and I’ll kill you and I’ll kill you’Troy Deeney
      He picked Sasha up and flung her on a chair. It was mayhem.
      A friend of mine knocked on the door. That saved us.
      Dad let Mum answer the door but he was ­holding on to her hair to stop her running away.
      A woman next door called the police. They arrived quickly.
      One of the policemen pushed the door ajar.
      Dad slammed the door on his arm.
      Loads of police vehicles pulled up outside — two riot vans and four police cars, all for my dad.
      They forced their way in and ­wrestled him to the floor.
      “Look what these b******s have done to your dad,” he was saying. “All I wanted to do was see you.”
      It was an end of innocence for me. It destroyed my relationship with my dad for a few years.
      I forgave him for it but I never forgot.
      The first time he came to our house after he had beaten us up, I p***ed myself because I was so ­frightened.
      A year or so later I was chasing some kid because we’d had an argument.
      He climbed up on to a shed. As I was pulling myself up he kicked me in the face and I went flying backwards and landed hard on my elbow.
      I was in hospital for a week and every time I woke up Dad was ­sitting in the chair by my bed.
      He was there with me constantly.
      All the other stuff had gone because when I needed him most he was there.
      It was a strange dynamic. It’s probably why I’m so messed up now.

       Troy Deeney – Redemption: My Story is out on Thursday (Hamlyn, £20, ­octopusbooks.co.uk).

      Baby Troy aged oneCredit: Troy Deeney / Octopus Books
      Troy, his brother Ellis and dad Paul
      Footie star Troy’s hero is his hard-working mum Emma and he says she is the strongest person he knows
      Troy Deeney – Redemption: My Story is out on Thursday (Hamlyn, £20, ­octopusbooks.co.uk)
      Troy Deeney posts emotional message to Watford fans after 11-year stay ends More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo’s amazing fleet of cars worth £17m, including new £250,000 Bentley Flying Spur he drives to Carrington

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      A new club, a new motor for CRISTIANO RONALDO.The Manchester United star has added a £250,000 Bentley Flying Spur to his staggering car collection.
      Cristiano Ronaldo drives his Bentley Flying Spur to training with Manchester United
      Ronaldo is also believed to be one of 10 people lucky enough to buy the incredible Bugatti Centodieci, which costs £8.5m
      The amazing Bugatti is truly a one of a kind motorCredit: Bugatti

      Ronaldo has reportedly spent £1.4m on an amazing Ferrari MonzaCredit: Alamy
      It joins a limited edition £8.5million Bugatti Centodieci – of which only ten have been made, he added to his incredible fleet last year.
      Ronaldo, 36, took his new motor for a spin as he arrived to training at United’s The AON Carrington Training Complex.
      While in 2020, he was spotted taking a tour of Ferrari’s Maranello company, where he posed for a picture with a F1 car and ordered himself a Ferrari Monza worth £1.4million.
      That puts his car collection now at around roughly £17million – with Bugattis being his favourite.
      Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has a Bugatti Chiron and a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse as part of his huge hoard.
      He has ‘CR7’ embroidered on the headrests of his other two Bugattis, but his latest model he bought is believed to be a tribute to the legendary Bugatti EB110 – Centodieci is Italian for 110.
      The Centodieci boasts an 8 litre W16 engine, with special models having 1600hp – some 100hp more than the Chiron and, overall, three times the price of that model.
      It can do 0-62mph in just 2.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 236mph.
      The Portuguese superstar has supercars likes Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces, admitting to Piers Morgan in an interview he likes to have two of everything.

      Join SunSport in revelling in just some of Ronaldo’s collection that his fortune can afford.MERCEDES G-WAGON BRABUS, £600,000
      What do you buy your boyfriend if he has everything?
      Well if you’re Georgina Rodriguez you get a massive, gift-wrapped Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
      The gorgeous former shop assistant made sure CR7’s had the best 35th birthday ever – gifting him a stunning Mercedes G Wagon Brabus that can cost as much £600,000.
      And the brilliant SUV can reach top speeds of 137mph.
      Cristiano Ronaldo was the lucky recipient of a Mercedes G Wagon Brabus for his 35th birthdayCredit: Instagram @georginagio
      BUGATTI CHIRON, £2.15MILLION
      In 2017, Ronaldo’s need for speed saw the mercurial forward splash the cash on a stunning silver Bugatti Chiron.
      Incredibly, it can reach speeds of 260 mph, and does 0-60 in just under 2.5 seconds, not that Turin will allow him the opportunity to drive it that fast with the city’s busy traffic.
      As we said, he likes two of everything – and this was the second Bugatti he bought, although he has denied buying a third  – the Bugatti La Voiture Noire – which was reckoned to be the most expensive car in the world EVER at £9.49million, and was snapped up by a mystery buyer last year.
      The 36-year-old loves posting images of his cars to social media, including the Bugatti ChironCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      BUGATTI VEYRON, £1.7M
      Only 450 Veyron 16.4 Grand Sports were built, so of course Ronaldo wanted a slice of that rarity pie.
      It cost him £1.7m, and will only increase in value as the years go by.
      The Portuguese legend bought the car as a treat after winning Euro 2016 with his country.
      In terms of performance, it does 0-62 mph in 2.6 seconds, and has an outer skin completely made of carbon fibre.
      Cristiano Ronaldo poses outside his former Madrid home on his £1.7m Bugatti VeyronCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR, £260,040
      Simply because a Bugatti Veyron won’t fulfil Ronaldo’s love of fast cars, in the same year he bought that motor he splashed on a Lamborghini Aventador.
      Made in 2011, it’s the most celebrated model by the Italian car designer – and owned by footballers all over the world, not scared of the outlandish price.
      Ronaldo celebrated his purchase on Instagram in 2016, with a picture with the caption: “Bom dia (good morning)”.
      Ronaldo has a matte-black Lamborghini Aventador worth over £200kCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Ronaldo loves having two of every brand and has a separate LamborghiniCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      ROLLS ROYCE CULLINAN, FROM £330,000
      Last year Ronaldo added a Cullinan to his collection, having previously owned a Rolls Royce Phantom worth around £363,000.
      Showing his loyalty to his new employers, CR7 even personalised the interior with black and white leather.
      Standing at five metres long, the Cullinan boasts a V12 engine and a horse power of 571.
      It is the only SUV Rolls Royce have ever produced.
      Ronaldo arrives anywhere in style with his Rolls Royce among the collectionCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      CHEVROLET CAMARO, £35,000
      Maybe he learned something from Sir Alex Ferguson about American cars, after all the former Manchester United boss drove a Chevrolet to training when he was Red Devils manager.
      A more economic motor than others in his garage, the Camaro has a 6.2-litre V8 engine that delivers 453 horsepower.
      It’s cheaper than anything else he owns, and was bought in 2016 as a family car.
      Ronaldo arrives at his old Madrid home in his white Mustang convertibleCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      FERRARI F12 TDF, £350,000
      In 2017, Ronaldo bought an F12 TDF – another collector’s item with only 799 made in the world.
      It is certainly one of the favourites he owns, and is zippy with a top speed of 211 mph, and capable of doing 0-62 in 2.9 seconds.
      Needless to say, pet-friendly Ronaldo won’t let his pooches in though.
      The Portuguese superstar’s red Ferrari may not be the most appropriate car for his dogsCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      The Ferrari F12 is one of Ronaldo’s favouritesCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Ronaldo poses on the boot of one of his white FerrarisCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      RANGE ROVER SPORT, £100,000
      A staple for every footballers’ garage, the Range Rover Sport is the ultimate SUV for the rich and famous.
      The model that Ronaldo drives is, of course, is the special edition, SVR.
      It’s Ronaldo’s go-to motor when he drives to the Continassa training ground in Turin.
      Ronaldo’s garage has also includes a giant Range RoverCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      MERCEDES AMG GLE 63, £127,000
      In 2016 Ronaldo filled his garage with supercar after supercar.
      His AMG GLE 63 was a gift to himself for Christmas, and some present it is.
      The SUV has a 612 horse power engine, and it can reach a top speed of 155 mph.

      Ronaldo has one of the most impressive car collections in footballCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      MCLAREN SENNA, £1MILLION
      A car made as a dedication to the legendary Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, it would’ve set Ronaldo back around £1million – with only 500 models ever made.
      So enamoured by its performance on Top Gear, former presenter Jeremy Clarkson said of the McLaren Senna it has ‘rewritten the supercar rule book’.
      Powered by a twin-turbo charged V8 engine that produces 800 horse power, it can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.8 seconds.
      Mika Hakkinen is another sports star who owns one of these beauties.
      Ronaldo’s six years in Manchester saw him take a liking to McLarensCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT, FROM £151,000
      Ronaldo is believed to have started collecting cars from around 2009, when he was a Manchester United star.
      He had a penchant for Bentley Continental GTs in those early days, and collected several during his time at Old Trafford.
      Ronaldo’s was the GT Speed model, which was naturally the most expensive version ever.
      The interior was lush, filled with magnolia leather.
      And because it was a convertible, Ronaldo was often spied with the roof down – even in rainy Manchester.
      Ronaldo began to have a collection of supercars during his time at United, including this Bentley convertibleCredit: Cavendish
      Ronaldo’s car collection is worth around £17mCredit: Instagram @cristiano
      Cristiano Ronaldo ‘splashes out £8.5million on limited edition Bugatti Centodieci’ – with just ten models ever created More

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      Meet AFC Wimbledon’s secret weapon against Arsenal… a set piece specialist who has helped the club score more goals

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      SHOULD AFC Wimbledon score at the Emirates on Wednesday night, chances are it will be from a set piece.The Dons travel to North London to face Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Carabao Cup third round.
      Restarts coach Andy Parslow, right, is said to be responsible for AFC Wimbledon being prolific on set pieces this seasonCredit: Rex
      Incredibly, AFC Wimbledon already have nine goals from set pieces this seasonCredit: Rex
      And although they’re sitting just outside the playoff positions in League One, they will certainly pose a threat to the Gunners.
      This season, AFC Wimbledon have scored an incredible nine goals from set pieces – more than any other club across the four tiers of professional football in England.
      Then man responsible for the sudden surge in goals is Restarts Coach Andy Parslow, who is responsible for finessing throw-ins, free-kicks and corners, for and against.
      Already, defender Will Nightingale has four goals from set pieces – one more than he managed in his past six years.
      But it’s Parslow who deserves the credit. He joined the club in 2019 and began working with the academy.
      Soon after Mark Robinson was appointed as caretaker manager in January, he was promoted as a first team coach.
      “Every time the ball goes dead, that’s when I’m getting to work – throw ins, free kicks, corners, kick offs. I want to start looking at goal kicks as well,” Parslow told AFC Wimbledon TV back in March.
      “It’s for and against, the attacking and defensive side of it. It’s just about marginal gains. I looked at things last summer and the average conversion rate for corners was just under 2.5%, which was next to nothing.
      “The best team in the League last season were Rotherham, who scored 12 goals from their corners, meaning they were up at 5%.
      “If we can make a 2 or 3% difference, three, four or five more goals from corners, it turns draws into wins, losses into draws. It’s taking care of the small details and doing everything I can to try and help us be as best as we can be.”
      Parslow, who was inspired by Liverpool’s throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark, has been buoyed by how open the players were to his role.
      “They’ve been really receptive to all the ideas,” he said.
      Will Nightingale scores from a set play against Oxford CityCredit: Rex
      Parslow is often seen on the touchline next to boss Mark RobinsonCredit: Rex
      AFC Wimbledon will try to make life difficult for Arsenal from set playsCredit: Rex

      “I think there’s been quite a cultural shift. It’s not just a case of me coming to the players with an idea – ‘this is what we’re going to do’ – some of the players have been texting me, saying, ‘have you seen this corner, have you seen this routine?’
      “It’s more of a two-way communication and ownership from the players. It shows they’re thinking about it. They’re not just taking on information, they’re being proactive.”
      And they could be even more proactive by putting their work to practice in North London tonight.
      Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta handed massive boost after Thomas Partey returns to training More

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      Liverpool wonderkid Kaide Gordon has been called ‘the best 16-year-old in the country’ and amazed Wayne Rooney at Derby

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      TEENAGER Kaide Gordon is showing Liverpool fans why the club committed £3million on him.The exciting youngster made his debut for the Reds in the EFL Cup, playing 90 minutes in a 3-0 win over Norwich City at Carrow Road.
      Kaide Gordon wowed Liverpool fans with his performance against NorwichCredit: Getty
      Teenager Gordon thanked Klopp for giving him an opportunity in the EFL Cup gameCredit: AFP
      Gordon, who turns 17 next month, became the fifth youngest player in Liverpool’s history.
      After the game, his manager Jurgen Klopp hailed the talented teen at the final whistle.
      He said: “He’s good. A lot of things to improve, a lot of things to settle, a lot of things to learn but there’s a lot of things already there.
      “We are really happy to have him around and we will treat him carefully, let me say it like this.
      “But I am really happy that he is here, he is a big talent.”
      And the German boss even let slip how modest Gordon thanked him for a chance at the end of the match.
      Klopp revealed: “The first thing Kaide said to me after the game, when I wanted to say ‘congratulations’, he said to me, ‘Thank you!’
      “I said, ‘Nothing to thank me for, you deserved it.’”
      STARTED AT DERBY
      Before Gordon could realise his Anfield dream, he was a eight-year-old at Derby excelling for their boys’ teams.
      Blessed with skill and pace beyond his years, he was propelled through the ranks.
      By 14, he was playing for The Rams’ U16 side.
      Gordon, front row, second from the left, with Derby County’s academy team
      Last season Gordon appeared in the Derby County first teamCredit: PA
      Two years later, coaches behind the scenes were calling him ‘the best 16-year-old in the country’.
      In 2020, after starring with the U18s, he was awarded the club’s academy player of the season.
      “Kaide was the most exciting and creative player throughout the year and has shown a real improvement both in and out of possession, but we believe there is more to come too,” academy director Darren Wassall said.
      ROONEY IMPRESSED
      Derby’s best kept secret wasn’t a secret anymore, as he made his senior debut for County against Birmingham City as a sub in a 4-0 win.
      It was a testament to his attitude, as well as his ability, that he was given his opportunity by his former boss Wayne Rooney, albeit a brief three-minute cameo in the final moments at St Andrew’s.
      “I brought Kaide up with the first-team initially to train with us for a week to see how he reacted to it, and he was one of the best trainers,” Rooney revealed after he handed Gordon his bow.
      “I kept him with us for a couple of weeks and he’s been training at the same level, if not to a better level to a lot of the other first-team players.
      “As I said to the players: if you train hard and train well, I will give you your chance.”
      Then, Liverpool began to circle around the impressive kid.
      Derby boss Wayne Rooney handed Gordon his debut and was amazed at his potentialCredit: PA
      Gordon played for three minutes against Birmingham in a brief cameoCredit: Rex
      “Kaide is a fantastic player and he has got a lot of potential,” Rooney responded to reports linking Gordon with a move away from the club.
      “Of course there will be interest in Kaide because he is a fantastic player, so we expect there to be interest in him.”
      LIVERPOOL MOVE
      In February, the Reds made their move for Gordon, beating Manchester United to a deal that could be worth £3million with add-ons.
      Already, he has blossomed at Melwood and was recommended to Klopp by Liverpool’s assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders as a potential starter against Norwich.
      Lijnders said: “He is what you see a lot with these kind of wingers – they can outplay, they can combine – but he has a goal in him.
      “And he has this natural ability to be in the box between the goalposts to score, even when the cross comes from the opposite side, for example. Not many talents have that.”
      In February, Gordon moved to Anfield for a deal that could be worth £3millionCredit: Getty
      Gordon played the full 90 minutes against Norwich and impressed fansCredit: Getty

      While training with the first team, Gordon has also been taken under the wing of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
      Lijnders added: “He is a typical Liverpool Football Club winger, in my opinion, because he has goals, he has speed. We really like him and we are really happy he is with us.”
      It seems that Anfield could be ready for a new hero. More