Premier League

NEWCASTLE legend Lee Clark has revealed it would be his “ultimate dream” to watch his son Bobby Clark play for the North East club.Midfielder Bobby, 19, who was a part of the Magpies’ youth team until 2021, made his Liverpool debut in 2022 but has only just become more of a regular in recent months.Lee Clark wants son Bobby to follow in his footsteps at NewcastleCredit: GettyBobby, right, is beginning to make a name for himself at AnfieldCredit: ReutersClarke has featured in five Premier League games so far this seasonMost notably, he was one of The Reds’ academy players that came off the bench in their Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea at Wembley last month.And while his dad, Lee, is overjoyed at his son’s success, he admits he would love his boy to make the move to St James’ Park.Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, when asked if he’d like Bobby to play for Newcastle, Lee said: “Absolutely. I don’t know how many fathers and sons have done it for the club.”I was lucky enough to do it 265 times. Who knows, he might have to do an Alan Shearer and come back.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”But yeah, that would be my ultimate dream. Definitely.”Lee, 51, who played the same position as his son, was born and bred in the North East, before he went on to feature 265 times for Newcastle between 1990 and 2006.He won the First Division in 1993 and was a part of Kevin Keegan’s famous side dubbed “The Entertainers”.Lee ended up leaving for rivals Sunderland in 1997, but after a stint with Fulham he then returned to Newcastle in 2005 for one more season with the club.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMeanwhile, teenage star Bobby made Liverpool history earlier this week by scoring his first goal for the club in a 6-1 Europa League win over Sparta Prague.The strike, which came in the second leg of a last 16 tie that Klopp’s men won 11-2, makes him the youngest Liverpool player to score in European competition.Europa League quarter-final draw in full as Liverpool and West Ham learn their fate He broke the record set by Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2017.And Bobby could be used regularly towards the end of the season as Klopp’s squad is ravaged by injuries.Midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Curtis Jones are both currently unavailable, while Alexander-Arnold is also sidelined.Bobby picked up a knock during the win over Sparta Prague, but Klopp has revealed it is not serious.Ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, the Liverpool manager said: “Bobby felt much better.”That was uncomfortable, he got a knock there, a little swelling and that’s why [we had] the feeling that it might be something more serious but it’s not, so he’s fine.”Lee made 195 Premier League appearances for NewcastleCredit: Getty More

EVERTON’S Portuguese training camp was “marred by an altercation” between their manager and players, according to a shock report.The Toffees are on an 11-match winless run – just one less than their worst Premier League record from the 1994/95 season.Sean Dyche allegedly had to be taken away from a row by James Tarkowski in PortugalCredit: GettyThe incident was sparked by a ‘joke backfiring’ involving Nathan PattersonCredit: ReutersThat led to boss Sean Dyche deciding to take his struggling squad overseas for the week in an effort to rebuild spirit.However, the Daily Mail has claimed that the training camp was dominated by an “altercation” between him and a number of his stars.This report states that Dyche “shocked his squad by aiming a jocular slap at the head of defender Nathan Patterson, 22, during a meal in the Algarve resort of Quinta do Lago”.The 52-year-old is said to have connected with the Scottish international “more forcefully than he intended”, which left some players unimpressed.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThat allegedly led to tempers becoming “sufficiently heated” before Everton captain James Tarkowski stepped in.The 31-year-old centre-half took his former Burnley boss away from the scene “to allow any lingering ill-feeling to subside”.They left the table at which the players and staff were eating but returned to finish their meals with the rest of the party.The report then claims that Dyche was understood to have apologised to Patterson.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERDyche’s “intentions were harmless” and the evening was “good-natured” apart from this incident, which left the right-back “embarrassed to be the centre of attention”.The Mail adds that Everton sources are adamant the incident was not a major bust-up and was just “a clumsy joke that backfired”.Ashley Young walks out of live TNT Sports interview after Joleon Lescott quip following Everton’s defeat to Man UtdHowever, “it caused a stir among fellow restaurant diners” and provided more unwanted attention amid the club’s struggles on and off the pitch.Everton’s miserable run has led to them slumping to 16th in the table and just four points above Luton in the relegation zone.They have already been deducted six points – which was reduced from ten on appeal – for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.And they look likely to get another points deduction this term after being charged with a second breach of PSR rules.Everton’s trip was reportedly described as a “success” ad the players were believed to be “in good spirits when they landed” back on Merseyside around 5pm on Friday with “all said to be resolved”.Everton are not back in Premier League action until March 30 when they visit Bournemouth. More

MAURICIO POCHETTINO hosted a BBQ for his Chelsea stars on Friday in the hope it will help them grill Leicester in the FA Cup.But the players were not allowed to scoff chargrilled treats with no fat, chips or booze – and all under the watchful eyes of the club’s strict dieticians.Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea BBQ was ruined by rainy weatherCredit: GettyHe had hoped to use the event as a bonding session for his playersCredit: GettyChelsea’s stars were unable to drink booze and closely watched by nutritionistsCredit: GettyIt also poured with rain for much of the afternoon but head coach Pochettino insists the team-bonding session is a key ingredient in making his squad a stronger unit.Speaking before the event, Pochettino said: “The idea is to share between the players and the staff. The staff are also invited.“I think we are going to be 120, 130 people. The most important is that the players understand what it means to be Chelsea players.“But we have to be responsible. I propose a BBQ but then there are two nutritionists who will control what they are going to eat.READ MORE CHELSEA NEWS“We drink water, orange juice, No alcohol, not to eat too much, eat protein. Green salad, no fries.“We will be all together. Of course having a barbecue doesn’t mean that afterwards we are going to score goals but of course it is about communication, feeling better.“So that this is not only a training ground where you come to work. It’s home and we want to create a good feeling between everyone. To get people to fight for the same thing – to win.”Specialist sausages and succulent cuts of beef were on the menu for the lunch served after training under a giant marquee at Chelsea’s Surrey training ground.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSPochettino says it is part of his masterplan to gel his squad of unknowns and untried rookies into a band of brothers.He said: “We use different strategies. All the players are different. They come from different countries from different backgrounds, from different cultures.Chelsea’s plans for £1bn new stadium“Paying attention to that is a big job. We analyse their profiles Not only their physical profiles but their characters. It is so important.”Pochettino also says he welcomes the appointment of a set-piece coach this summer even though he seemed to give a different point of view some time ago.Brentford’s Bernardo Cueva is set to join the growing band of coaches at the club as part of a wider strategy led from the boardroom.Pochettino said: “That is one area they want to reinforce, to move on, to challenge the people that are here.“We cannot go against the things that can help us to be better and to maybe help us to win games.“That is the idea of the owner, that is the idea of the sporting directors and we are very supportive.”Specialist sausages and succulent cuts of beef were on the menuCredit: X/ @ParrillasUK More

I DON’T think I’ve ever thought deeply about 80s pop star Rick Astley’s lyrics before but he was right — ‘Never Gonna Give You Up!’Watching Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio midweek made me realise there are a stack of footballers who have come from humble beginnings.Karren Brady writes exclusively for Sun SportCredit: PAMichail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen made the WEst Ham chief think about Rick AstleyCredit: GettySome are even in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad. It just shows never, ever give up on the dream.Our own Bowen was turned down by a host of clubs before making it at his home-town team Hereford United.He scored his first goal for them at Alfreton. From there he caught the eye and went to Hull, where his performances attracted our attention and even though Bowen was a late developer, he has flourished.Antonio started his footballing journey at Tooting & Mitcham before signing for Reading but even then he was loaned out to a variety of clubs only to hit his straps at Sheffield Wednesday.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLLook at Ollie Watkins. He was farmed out to Weston Super Mare on loan in his teens while at Exeter City. In this week where betting on the nags at Cheltenham has been all the rage, you’d have got pretty good odds on Watkins leading the line for Aston Villa in 2024.It doesn’t just stop there. Wolves captain Max Kilman couldn’t get into non-league Welling United’s side, but three seasons at National League side Maidenhead and he ended up at Molineux. Incredible.Another centre-half, 62-cap Harry Maguire, was already the grand old age of 22 when he was loaned out to Wigan.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERJohn Stones started his professional life at Barnsley before making the move to Everton and then Manchester City.Another central defender, Roma’s Chris Smalling, started at this season’s FA Cup giantkillers Maidstone United and did not make his Premier League debut until he was nearly 20.The Tap In West Ham’s Moyes Out fans should ‘be careful what they wish for’ ft. Tony CotteeJames Maddison left his teenage years on loan at Aberdeen, before breaking through in midfield at Norwich and then on to Leicester and Spurs.Jamie Vardy may be firing Leicester back to the Prem but as a kid he was released by Sheffield Wednesday and started his senior career at Stocksbridge Park Steels.Newcastle’s Callum Wilson spent his teenage years at Kettering and Tamworth, while his Toon team-mate Nick Pope was released by Ipswich and played for a host of non-league clubs before landing up at Burnley.Andy Robertson could help Liverpool win the title this season, but it wasn’t looking too rosy for him when he was rejected by Celtic and ended up at amateur club Queen’s Park.Another late bloomer John McGinn was in his mid-20s when he moved to Aston Villa after  starting his footballing career at St Mirren.Despite society’s obsession with youth success, it’s not realistic to expect that of many of us.Things take time. OK, yes, like a fine wine. Or keeping to the boozy theme, like the famous Guinness advert where we are told ‘Good things come to those who wait’.That is so true. The all-time top World Cup goalscorer, as any sports quizmaster will tell you, is Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16.But aged 20 Klose was playing in the SEVENTH tier of German football.READ MORE SUN STORIESTurn on Match of the Day this weekend and chances are Ian Wright will be on the pundit panel. That’s the same Ian Wright who, just shy of his 22nd birthday, was snapped up by Crystal Palace from non-league Greenwich.We started with Rick Astley and we’ll end with Take That. With some footballers, you must ‘Have a little . . . patience’. More