Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #RalphHasenhuttl reveals his admiration for new signing #Lyanco #SaintsFC

September 10, 2021
RALPH Hasenhuttl eases early expectations on big character and “long-term project” Lyanco, and insists: “He will definitely make a lot of games with us, a good signing for the future.” The 24-year-old Brazilian centre-back arrived from Italian Serie A side Torino towards the end of the summer transfer window, in place of Jannik Vestergaard, but don’t necessarily expect to see him in immediate action. He has already looked to make himself a fan favourite with regular social media posts of him enjoying life at his new club, although supporters will want to see his passion matched by on-pitch performances. Saints manager Hasenhuttl has so far opted for Jack Stephens and Mohammed Salisu as his two centre-back positions, while Jan Bednarek has been reduced to an appearance from the substitutes bench. Read more  Hasenhuttl: Theo Walcott and Stuart Armstrong out West Ham Ralph Hasenhuttl opens up on strict transfer policy under Gao Ralph Hasenhuttl concerned amid international quarantines Asked about new-boy Lyanco ahead of the West Ham contest up next in the Premier League, Hasenhuttl said: “Yeah, I mean as always for us new signings are long-term projects and that’s what I told him. “His English is not the best so far, he has to learn it. But he is willing to learn and all the rest he has to learn, he will. Very good character and yeah, big personality and very happy to have him here. “Ori is at the moment our translator, my Italian is not that good but I try to speak with him, especially in a football business there is some words I don’t know. preparative 🙏🏼🦍❤️🤍 @SouthamptonFC pic.twitter.com/AFg8hLcymF — Lyanco Vojnovic (@Lyanco) September 8, 2021 “But yeah he will learn English and he will definitely make a lot of games with us, a good signing for the future.” Lyanco made 23 appearances in Italy’s top-flight last season, with his last match coming in a 0-7 demolition at home to AC Milan in May. He has experience playing in a central-defensive trio at Torino and after Hasenhuttl switched to a similar shape during the Manchester United draw, perhaps when the Austrian boss next opts to move to that formation will be when Lyanco gets some action in a Saints shirt.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – Southampton manager #RalphHasenhuttl reveals what needs to change to improve the points tally #SaintsFC

September 10, 2021
SAINTS have picked up two points from their first three fixtures of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign, but manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has seen more positives insisting: “The way we played or we created chances and scored goals was good, I think.” The Austrian manager has previewed Saturday’s clash with David Moyes’ West Ham, who, after qualifying for the Europa League last season, are now second in the table with seven points from three. The Hammers secured that qualification and defeated Saints 3-0 on the final day of last season, with Pablo Fornals hitting a brace. Michail Antonio, who was on loan at Saints between 2009-2010, has stolen the show with four goals and a flurry of forward action already this campaign as Moyes’ rejuvenated outfit cannot be stopped by opposition defences. Read more Ralph Hasenhuttl opens on strict transfer policy under Gao Hasenhuttl: Theo Walcott and Stuart Armstrong out West Ham Ralph Hasenhuttl concerned amid international quarantines They've already put ten goals away this season, but have not kept a clean sheet themselves either. Speaking ahead of the clash, Hasenhuttl said: “Yeah, I spoke last season about that (Moyes’ West Ham turnaround). We lost against them in the final game. “We know the strength they have, they have very good individual qualities in the team but also a clear and very efficient way of playing football – this is the reason why they’re so successful.” Striker Michail Antonio is one of many stars in the Hammers side who is bang-in-form (Pic: PA) On the other hand, Saints were handed a tough start to the league season on paper and it has proven to be so, managing a draw with Manchester United and rescuing another with a last-minute penalty at Newcastle. Only Adam Armstrong, Moi Elyounoussi and James Ward-Prowse have got on the scoresheet for Saints so far this season – after Che Adams’ strike was ruled to be a Fred own goal – and someone will need to step into the breech and provide regular strikes. Having conceded six in three also, Hasenhuttl reflected on his team’s performances, saying: “The way we played or we created chances and scored goals was good, I think. Our game with the ball was very good. “Our game against the ball also, but the amount of goals we conceded in the first three games was above the average we try to have, so far. “And this is what we have to change, this is a tricky topic for the last weeks – it’s getting more and more difficult in the Premier League to have clean sheets, you see it every weekend. James Ward-Prowse's last gasp spot-kick secured a point at Newcastle (Pic: PA) “Teams are getting stronger and it’s not so easy. A few chances are enough for the opponent to score and this is what makes it so difficult but, especially in the last game, we normally should’ve won it and we had the bigger chances. “Conceding in the end a goal, what is absolutely to defend. And this is what we have to discuss.” Saints vs West Ham kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 11 September, at St Mary’s – in the first domestic action since deadline day and the international break.
Tino Livramento
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #TinoLivramento reveals reasons for leaving Chelsea and joining Southampton #ChelseaFC #SaintsFC

September 9, 2021
SAINTS star Tino Livramento continued his rapid recent rise with a debut for England's under-21s. The 18-year-old completed a £5million move from Chelsea to St Mary's over the summer, and instantly broke into the starting line-up. He has not missed a minute of Premier League action this season, despite having previously never played a senior competitive match before in his career. Livramento has shone in his three outings so far, his early form earning him a call-up into Lee Carsley's England under-21s squad. And the right-back, who had made appearances for England from under-15s through to under-19s, now has his first cap for the level immediately below the senior side. Livramento came off the bench to replace PSV's Noni Madueke for the final seven minutes as Carsley's Young Lions kicked off their Euro 2023 qualification campaign with a 2-0 win over Kosovo in Milton Keynes. England sealed victory thanks to goals from Rhian Brewster and Cole Palmer. Speaking to the England football website about his recent rise, Livramento said: “Pulling on the England shirt means everything (to me). “When you are young, you dream of doing things like this as a footballer and right now it (playing for England) is the biggest stage I can go to. "I am proud that I am representing my family and myself. “Captaining England (at under-18s level) was probably the proudest moment for me so far. It tops everything. "Just walking out there and not only playing but being captain brings out a different side to me that I don’t usually bring when I am not captain. "I was talking more and it was a good experience because I think it has brought a different side to my game that maybe I was missing. “It was the proudest moment for me so far.” Discussing his first call-up to the under-21s, Livramento added: "To get to that next step with England was quite a surprise but it was a massive thing for me and my family. “It has obviously been a crazy couple of months but even though it is a big thing to be playing in the Premier League, at Southampton it has been easy to settle in because of everyone there and the coaches and playing staff. “Getting the England call-up was even more of a massive thing for me. So I am trying to take everything in my stride and keep moving forward.” Quizzed on his decision to leave Chelsea for Saints over the summer, Livramento explained: "Every single year, I have a routine of setting goals and there is only so much you can do at youth level. “Me and my dad sat down in May and we spoke and thought the next step would be for me to push into a Premier League team and we felt the better route for me was to leave Chelsea. “It wasn’t easy obviously as I have been a fan for as long as I can remember and been a player there since I was seven. “I never thought that I would be playing straight away (at Saints) but you have to take everything in your stride and you cannot hide when you get that opportunity. You have to take it. I hope I can keep doing that. “At Southampton, luckily with the manager, the staff and the players, it has come together quite nicely.” Livramento will be hoping to keep his place in Saints' starting XI for the visit of West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday (3pm).
Oriol Romeu Danny Ings
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories – #OriolRomeu admits that life has changed after he became a father #SaintsFC

September 9, 2021
ORIOL Romeu revealed how having new-born baby Zac “couldn’t be any better” as he balances football with feeding times and nappy changes. He revealed how he had been able to help care for his son overnight during the off-season, but was now back to a regular sleeping pattern as the 2021-22 campaign got underway. And the proud new dad insisted he would not change a minute, as he provides for Zac and his family. He told the Daily Echo: “It’s been great. It’s one of the things we as people are always thinking ‘is that going to happen one day?’ And he finally arrived. “We are very happy, very pleased and everything is going well so far. “I am trying to learn as the days go by. It’s a continuous learning thing, changing and then growing so quickly – but trying to get next to him and helping wherever I can. “It’s a bit harder now because he is sleeping less. “Once you get home, your wife or girlfriend is telling you to do things that you haven’t done for the whole morning – but you have been running around the pitch, so you are also tired. “Trying to find a balance is difficult but we are very happy, very pleased and everything is going according to plan – it couldn’t be any better.” Sleep is essential for any elite athlete to perform at their best – and Romeu is thankful to his girlfriend for allowing him to get the correct amount, while Zac is up at night. “The first few weeks when he arrived, I was trying to be up from 4-5am, we were doing half a night each,” said the Saints star, who this month celebrates his 30th birthday. “But I just say to her ‘I need the sleep’. If I’m not getting the sleep, I just feel tired everywhere. “But at that time I was still injured, so I could still do it and over the holidays I could still do it. “Now we are playing and training, we need to get these seven or eight hours. As soon as I wake up, I try to compensate with what I haven’t done overnight. “Luckily she is good and she is accepted – otherwise I will be in trouble!” Asked whether Zac’s arrival had given him an extra incentive to perform and make him proud, the midfielder said: “Yeah, I agree. “It also helps you to think of something else, otherwise it was always football, football, football. “Too much thinking of something is sometimes a bit negative. You get over-frustrated whenever you lose a game and you are not performing as much as you want. “Having your kid, when you go back home and he smiles – everything just goes away. That extra companion and extra thing to think of or be focused on is really helpful.” On the field, the former Barcelona and Chelsea man has started all three Premier League contests this season. Saints lost their opening fixture against Everton before draws against Manchester United and Newcastle before the international break. Assessing the start to the season Romeu said: “We’ve got points but we’ve got no wins, so it’s a bit 50-50. “The feeling is that we are getting better – the game against Newcastle overall, I think we were the better team, but we didn’t win it. “Against Man United we competed really well. We held them. “That’s a good sign and there’s positive things but there’s no wins and wins give you confidence, wins give you the right atmosphere to work and keep believing in what the team is doing. “Hopefully the wins come soon.” Saints are set to host West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.
#PLStories- #NathanRedmond advised #MichaelObafemi on Swansea transfer #SAINTSFC
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #NathanRedmond advised #MichaelObafemi on Swansea transfer #SAINTSFC

September 8, 2021
MICHAEL Obafemi revealed how a conversation with Nathan Redmond helped persuade him Swansea was a good move, admitting: “He said he (Russell Martin) would look after me, and that I should go and show the world what I can do.” The 21-year-old Republic of Ireland striker joined the south Wales club in a deal worth around £1.5million on deadline day, after a prospective loan move had to the same destination had failed in January. He will now be managed by Russell Martin, who moved to the Jacks from League One MK Dons this summer. Saints winger Redmond played for Norwich between 2013-16, spending all three seasons playing alongside the now-Swansea boss Martin, in the Premier League and Championship. As such, Obafemi asked his ex-teammate about whether he thought it’d be a move he would relish. Speaking to the club website, Obafemi revealed: “Nathan Redmond spoke to me as he played with the coach at Norwich. “He said he would look after me, and that I should go and show the world what I can do, which is what I should do and it’s about time I do that. “I am looking forward to the future, I was looking forward to coming here in January but now I am here permanently I want to show what I can do. I am looking forward to playing for all the Jacks. “I want to bring my experience of the Premier League, and work every day on all aspects of my game and do well in the Championship.” He added: “I can see that this is an amazing club, and it’s about time it gets back to where it deserves to be, which is the Premier League. “I can promise the fans I am going to work my hardest to help us win games, to score goals and to be in contention for promotion, that’s my aim.” At his new club, Obafemi has been given the number nine shirt heading into the Championship campaign – of which Swansea have played five fixtures already, picking up just four points. The Irish forward reveals how he actually idolised a former Swan growing up. Obafemi said: “It feels good to have the number nine shirt and I want to create my own legacy for it. I can remember watching some great players up front for Swansea. “I loved Wilfried Bony, he was a great player and I would love to leave my mark here in the way he did, by scoring goals and helping the team be successful.”
Bobby Thomas
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley defender #BobbyThomas signs new deal at Turf Moor #BURNLEYFC

September 7, 2021
The 20-year-old joined the Clarets as a scholar in 2017 and won the club’s young player of the year award two years later. Thomas made his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup win at Millwall last season and has also been named on the bench in the Premier League. “It's something you work towards since you are a young kid,” said the defender. “To sign a long-term deal at an established Premier League side is a nice feeling. “It’s an important step, that transition from coming out of the 23s, hopefully into a first-team environment whenever that may be, which will be a nice reward for working hard and all the sacrifices.” Thomas spent time on loan at Barrow last season, making 21 appearances as the Bluebirds maintained their Football League status. The defender insists his time in League Two had a big impact on his development. “I really enjoyed my time there and felt like I learned loads,” he added. “It kind of modelled me into a different player because I didn't really have the experience. I feel like I do now from just one loan. “Even though it was for just half a season I really feel like I did learn and develop a lot. We just scraped staying up and I wouldn’t change it. “We had really good team and it was really enjoyable.”
Donny Van De Beek
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #DonnyVandeBeek on Manchester United exit links #MUFC

September 7, 2021
Van de Beek on Everton linksManchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has opened up on reported interest from Everton this summer.The Dutch midfielder was linked with a move to the Blues towards the end of the transfer window, having struggled for game time during his first season at Old Trafford.Asked if a move to Goodison Park was close to happening when quizzed on the matter on Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with Five YouTube channel, he said: “No, I spoke with the manager and the club, and they said they wanted me to stay here. The manager was really positive about me, and he said ‘I need you, and I want to keep you here’.“He also said: ‘What I see from you every day at training, is a different Donny now’. He was really positive about me, and now I am feeling well, I am in good shape, and I hope that I can show the fans that I have improved a lot.“He said he sees a big difference, maybe I am a bit stronger now and he can see that I have one year of experience in England now."Donny van de Beek was reportedly the subject of a late loan offer from Everton, which was blocked by Manchester United. (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Nathan Tella
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Southampton defender #JackStephens discusses #NathanTella and Southampton FC squad #SAINTSFC

September 7, 2021
SAINTS defender Jack Stephens has opened up on his unlikely bromance with teammate Nathan Tella admitting: “I just want to look out for him, he makes me laugh and we’re just so different.” Centre-back Stephens, 27, has become great friends with 22-year-old academy graduate and exciting forward Tella, prompting the club website to ask about their friendship. Stephens joined Saints from Plymouth Argyle back in 2011, while Tella arrived in the academy from Arsenal in 2017, making his first-team debut in June 2020. Since then, Tella has gone on to play 20 Premier League games for the club, scoring once, but his infectious attitude and wide, cheeky smile has helped cut him a popular figure both internally and externally at the club. Read more  Southampton players international roundup - September 4 & 5 Southampton FC Women win consecutive 9-0s in National League Moi Elyounoussi dreamt of returning to Saints from Celtic Stephens has revealed that the pair couldn’t be any more different but that he has taken the youngster under his wing, admitting: “I just want to look out for him. “He’s a lovely lad and extremely talented. I just want him to do really well and get right to the very top, which he can do. “He’s just very interesting, he just makes me laugh. And we’re so different, I think that’s what intrigues me. We’re so different as individuals.” Nathan Tella has only made one Premier League appearance so far this season (Picture: PA) The club asked Stephens a series of questions about the squad and asking the defender to elaborate on the answer. Asked who the most annoying teammate is, Stephens joked: “Sharing a dressing room with Moussa, there’s never a dull moment with Moussa. “When he’s happy, he’s very happy. Plenty of singing, plenty of dancing, plenty of music playing. He doesn’t annoy me but he’s definitely the extravagant teammate.” On who he shouts at the most in-game, he added: “I give Che (Adams) a bit of stick, but he’s a good mate of mine so it’s nothing personal. But I’m probably a bit harsh on Che.” After making his Premier League debut during the 2016-17 season and going on to have made well over 100 first team appearances, Stephens has played with a number of past and present Saints defenders. That includes Champions League and Premier League winner Virgil van Dijk, who played alongside Stephens against Leicester in January 2017. But when asked who would be the defender he would like to return to the club and in their prime, to play alongside him now, Stephens answered: “I’d go with Maya (Yoshida). Jack Stephens names Maya Yoshida as among his favourite defensive partners (Picture: PA) “I think you have to look at it from a partnership point of view. The spell I had with Maya when I first got into the team, it just felt easy, we never had to talk about the game or where we going to be it was just so natural. “He was great for me off the pitch, a fantastic person, fantastic role model, an all-round brilliant guy.”
Mohamed Elyounoussi
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #MoiElyounoussi dreamt of returning to Saints from Celtic #SAINTSFC

September 6, 2021
MOI Elyounoussi insists he always hoped he could return from Celtic and make an impact at Saints, believing he and the club can be "the perfect match". Elyounoussi has enjoyed a resurgence at Saints this season, after two seasons out on loan. The Norway international arrived on the south coast from FC Basel for a fee of around £16million in 2018, penning a five-year contract. However, after making 16 appearances and scoring no goals in his debut campaign, Elyounoussi was sent out on loan to Scottish giants Celtic. He enjoyed success north of the border, winning the domestic treble in his first season, which was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Still not in Saints' plans, Elyounoussi returned to Parkhead for a second spell in 2020-21, with his time at the Bhoys eventually ending having netted 25 goals in 68 appearances. He returned to Ralph Hasenhuttl's Saints squad for pre-season and, after watching on from the bench for the first two matches, grabbed his opportunity in the Carabao Cup with a hat-trick in an 8-0 win over Newport County. The 27-year-old followed that up with a goal in his first Premier League appearance in over two years, starting the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United last time out. Elyounoussi has since taken his form to the international stage, netting for Norway during Saturday's 2-0 win in Latvia. Discussing his return to the Saints squad this season, Elyounoussi told the Daily Echo: "I have to be honest, that was my dream, to come back and to prove everyone wrong. "But at the same time, I had other offers. I had other opportunities to go and play week in, week out. "That was also in my mind if it doesn’t work. But after the two first games when I sat on the bench, I felt determined to come back, as soon as I get the opportunity I will show him (Hasenhuttl) that I deserve to play. "So I’m really happy that he put the trust in me and that I can pay him back for that." He added: "There were a lot of different reasons why it didn’t work first time. "So I just want to show why the club brought me in in the first place. "It’s still early days, I’m going to keep working hard, keep getting better and try to help the team as much as I can." During Elyounoussi's first season at Saints, the club underwent a change of management with Hasenhuttl brought in to replace Mark Hughes. The Austrian successfully steered the club to Premier League safety, but Elyounoussi's opportunities in the latter months were limited. Discussing the Morocco-born forward last month, Hasenhuttl said: "I know that he’s a fantastic footballer. "Meanwhile, we also play a little bit more football (now). That definitely helps him to be a better part of this team. "When I came here we had more to do with our work against the ball and we hadn’t been so far with our development with the ball. "But I think he has his biggest qualities with the ball and this is the reason why we need him." Asked if he feels he now fits in better at Saints than when he was last here, Elyounoussi said: "Yeah, I remember when he (Hasenhuttl) came in we changed the system to 3-5-2 without any wingers, so I didn’t have any position really. "It’s like he said as well, he was not focusing on what we were going to do with the ball, it was mainly without the ball. "For myself, I think I’m strong defensively anyway, without the ball as well. I think I’ve shown him that this pre-season and he knows he can rely on me defensively as well, not only offensively. "But with the ball we try to play more football, I get into pockets, that’s what I’m strong at, get the ball, turn and carry it, combination play with the strikers. "That’s what I’m enjoying the most and that’s what we’re going to do now. That’s why it’s the perfect match."
Graham Potter Brighton
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #GrahamPotter has been pleased with Brighton’s start to the season #BHAFC

September 5, 2021
Graham Potter has been pleased with his sides start to the campaign but warns them there is still plenty for them to work on. The Seagulls headed into the international break having picked up three wins out of a possible four with their only defeat being against Everton at the Amex prior to the break. Potter men’s became the first Albion side since the 2011/12 season to win their first three games of the season. Their return of six points out of a possible nine in the Prem leaves them eighth in the table and with the same number of points as last season’s champions Manchester City and Leicester who finished fifth. But despite having some positives to take from their opening three leagues games, Potter has warned there is still things they need to improve on. He told The Argus: “I think in some ways we are (pleased with the start to the season) but it is hard to say that as we haven’t played as well as we would have like today (against Everton). “But we also have to put things into perspective the group has done well and got two wins in the Premier League and a win in the Carabao Cup. “It is not all doom and gloom it is just a reality check unless we are at our very best it is hard for us against teams that have got the quality Everton have.” Albion face a tough couple of games after the break away at Brentford a week today (September 11), before then hosting Leicester the following weekend (Sunday, September 18).
Ralph Hasenhuttl
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #RalphHasenhuttl says Saints ‘absolutely positive’ after start #SAINTSFC

September 4, 2021
BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl insists Saints have gone into the international break "absolutely positive", despite being yet to register a victory in the Premier League this season. After defeat at Everton on the opening day, Hasenhuttl's men held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at St Mary's, before battling back to snatch a share of the spoils at the death in a dramatic 2-2 at Newcastle United on Saturday. That leaves Saints 13th in the embryonic league table, with two points from their three matches. After this two-week international break, Saints will return to action with a home game against West Ham United on September 11. They also face league fixtures with Manchester City, Wolves and Chelsea before the next stoppage for national team matches in early October. At this same stage last season, Saints had three points on the board after beating Burnley, following losses against Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur. But despite having a point fewer this time around after three matches, Hasenhuttl has a better feeling this year. The Saints boss told the Daily Echo: "We have one point less than last season, but it feels different because we lost two games and one we won. "Now we have drawn the last two, it is absolutely positive I think. But we have to find a way to win." Whilst Saints did thrash Newport County 8-0 in the Carabao Cup, the wait for a league win does go on. But Hasenhuttl believes his side have deserved more than their points tally currently shows. He said: "The games are much better than the results at the moment and this is what we have to change I think."
#PLStories- #MichaelObafemi thanks Saints teammates including #MarioLemina #SAINTSFC
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- #MichaelObafemi thanks Saints teammates including #MarioLemina #SAINTSFC

September 4, 2021
MARIO Lemina is among the names of players that Michael Obafemi named as ‘taking him under their wing’ during his Saints spell, insisting: “There’s too many to say, I’m thankful for them all.” The 21-year-old joined Saints in 2016 from Leyton Orient, and progressed through the academy before making his first-team debut during the 2017-18 season. The promising forward became the second-ever youngest player to represent Saints when he was handed his professional debut by then-boss Mauricio Pellegrino against Tottenham in January 2018. Since then, Obafemi has seen a number of players come in and out of the club as well as being coached by three different permanent managers. Read more Southampton players react to Michael Obafemi's Swansea exit Martin: Michael Obafemi is a better Swansea fit than Lowe International roundup: How Saints players performed Sept 2 But now his time at the club has come to an end, he has moved to thank all of the players who looked after him during his development. Speaking to the Swansea website, he said: “To be honest, near enough all the lads took me under their wing. “Nathan Redmond Ryan Bertrand, Mario Lemina, Shane long. “There’s just too many to say. I’m thankful for all the players that helped me along my way. “I’ll still keep on contact with them of course and I know they will be supporting me in my move.”
Burnley Stadium
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley chosen to host U-21 Championship against the Czech Republic #BURNLEYFC

September 4, 2021
Turf Moor has been chosen to host England’s European Under-21 Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic. The fixture – the Three Lions’ fourth match in Group B - will take place on Thursday, November 11 (KO 7pm). “We are honoured to be hosting England U21s and bringing international football back to Burnley,” chairman Alan Pace told the club’s website. “As a club with a passion for developing young homegrown talent, I am sure our supporters will welcome the opportunity to see the country’s most exciting players at Turf Moor and get behind England in this important UEFA Under 21 Championship qualifier.” The Clarets were due to host a qualifier between England and Turkey back in March 2020, but the game was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Three Lions – now managed by former Republic of Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley – kick off their qualifying campaign against Kosovo on Tuesday, September 7. Carsley – who took charge following Aidy Boothroyd’s departure - will be aiming to guide the England youngsters to the 2023 finals in Romania. Burnley winger Dwight McNeil – who is no longer eligible for the Under-21 squad – helped the side reach the 2021 finals in Hungary and Slovenia, where they failed to reach the knockout rounds.
Burnley
Posted in2021-2022-Season Daily News

#PLStories- Burnley appoint ex-Middlesbrough coach #PaulJenkins as new Academy Director #BURNLEYFC

September 3, 2021
Burnley have appointed Paul Jenkins as Academy Director for their Category One youth set-up. Jenkins takes up the role following the departure of Jon Pepper, who spent five years at Turf Moor. The 46-year-old has worked in the club as Technical Advisor since ALK Capital’s takeover on New Year’s Eve, and has been heavily involved in the global AiSCOUT talent search. Jenkins spent 23 years working across several roles in the Middlesbrough Academy, including Head Coach of the Under-21 team. He led the Boro youngsters to a double in 2015 – winning the Premier League second division title and North Riding Senior Cup – before being promoted to first-team coach. Jenkins also spent time as assistant manager at Hartlepool United. He will now be tasked with shaping the Clarets’ Academy as part of the club’s long-term strategy, which will include working with international markets. “It is an honour to be taking on the role of Academy Director at Burnley Football Club and I look forward to working with a talented group of young players at a truly world class Academy,” Jenkins told the club’s website. “What I hope to achieve is to create a legacy of good practice for both players and staff, have a positive reputation for giving players an opportunity to maximise their potential which may take them into our first team playing in the Premier League,” he added.