Surrey seamer keeps focus on County Championship despite impending qualification for adopted country

Andrew Miller21-Mar-2025″I might just announce my international retirement … then you can all go home!”We’re not even into April, and the line of questioning at Surrey’s pre-season media day is getting a touch samey, to say the least. But Dan Worrall is taking it all in his stride, much as he has done with every step of his remarkable second coming as a professional cricketer – a renaissance that could, with a fair crosswind and a bit of grass on the wicket, result in an England Test debut at the age of 33.That was certainly the impression that Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, gave in September last year, when he name-checked a bowler who had just claimed 52 wickets at 16.15 to help propel Surrey to a hat-trick of County Championship titles. “You can’t not notice Dan Worrall,” Key said. “He’s got brilliant attributes to be an international bowler.”Worrall, himself, however, could scarcely be less moved by the speculation. “There’s some things that take space in my head, but this is not one of them,” he said. “I’m just not interested about what anyone else is saying or thinking. I’m just trying to do my best for the team that I’m representing. And to be honest, with two kids under three, that keeps me busy most of the time anyway. So the other stuff doesn’t matter.”Almost nine years have now elapsed since Worrall’s first foray as an international cricketer: he played three ODIs for Australia, against Ireland and South Africa in September and October 2016. Those yielded one wicket and a sense of a box ticked in his career, as he turned his thoughts to a relocation to England and a chance to build a new life, with or without the sport at its centre.”I always thought I’d be getting the tube to work in London, but I never thought I’d be coming to a cricket ground,” Worrall said. A UK passport, courtesy of his Nottingham-born father, had encouraged him to take the plunge and uproot his young family but, after an initial haul of 43 wickets at 22.53 for Gloucestershire had confirmed the effectiveness of his fast-medium methods in English conditions, his switch to The Oval has since sent his career into overdrive.”We just thought it was a great challenge to take on, to have a bit of life experience, and challenge ourselves a little bit on the other side of the world with no family around. But, luckily, I’ve played at an amazing club, and we’ve won three championships, and the Hundred’s just come about. And being able to access leagues around the world is another benefit of moving over.”The bread-and-butter of Worrall’s new career, however, has been his red-ball form. In the space of those three triumphant seasons, he hoovered up 139 first-class wickets at 21.17, and with England having moved on last summer from James Anderson, a potential vacancy has opened up for, as he put it, “sweat-band seamer” in the Test attack – for the home series against India at the very least, if not for the tour of Australia that follows.”As a bowler, coming from Australia to England, there’s a lot more variables to play with,” he said. “You’ve got to swing it. Sometimes it bounces, sometimes it doesn’t, sometimes it’s raining … sunny, there’s grass on the pitch. There’s the Kookaburra [ball] now, so there’s a lot more variables that can make your worst day a lot worse than in Australia, I suppose.Related

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“As a professional, the feather in my cap would be getting to the point where I don’t really surprise anyone with how I perform … to get to the point where your worst day is not that much worse than your best day.”Can those attributes succeed on an Ashes tour, however? Despite the recent success of Scott Boland in Australia’s home summers, Worrall’s own assessment is candid.”You want my honest answer? Probably not!” he said. “There is a role – we saw Jimmy for 20 years go on numerous Ashes tours – but as a swing bowler, you’re not going to perform that role in every Test with the Kookaburra ball. There have been opportunities in the last couple of years in Test matches in Australia, [when it’s been] a bit more seamer friendly, but whether that happens again in an Ashes series, that’s yet to be seen. Maybe there’s a job to do as a sweat-band swinger, but we’ll wait and see.”In his former life, Worrall claimed 184 wickets at 29.03 for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, so he clearly has the pedigree to do that job Down Under. But, whether or not he’s doing himself out of a job for the coming winter, he also has no doubts about which attributes England should be doubling down on as they seek to win a series in Australia for the first time in 15 years.”In Australia, there’s not a lot of variables to play with. It’s more about being tall or fast or accurate,” he said. “The way that England are setting up their fast-bowling cartel is the way forward to win in Australia.”We’ve seen success from Gus [Atkinson], Brydon Carse, Mark Wood, and I think they’re trying to get to Jofra [Archer] up and about for that Ashes series. There is the necessity for pace and bounce in Australia, and I don’t think that’s a secret for anyone.”The way the Australian team has taken wickets consistently for the last decade has been with the guys that are over 6 ft 2, bowl fast and don’t really miss the spot. Naturally, there’s a challenge for English bowlers going over to Australia because of that difference, but the way that the guys are setting up now, it gives them the best chance to perform.”None of that, however, means Worrall will be turning down the England call, should it end up coming at any stage this year.”Yeah, of course, I’ve said it before,” he said, when asked if he would like to play for his adopted country. “I haven’t thought about it. Everyone else keeps talking about it. I’m just going to go out and do my best for Surrey and hopefully enjoy another successful season at The Oval.”It doesn’t faze me too much. It’s just one of those things where, as a professional athlete, there’s always someone with an opinion and someone that wants to get the next headline, or they want to figure out the next thing that’s going to happen in their career.”But I think as a player, as soon as you start thinking about that and letting that enter your thinking, it just detracts from your potential as a player and a professional and as a person. So as far as I’m concerned, I’m not that bothered. Whatever happens will happen. I’ll try my best wherever I am.”

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West Ham are reportedly interested in signing Sunderland’s top scorer Josh Maja on a permanent deal before sending him back to Wearside on an 18-month loan, as reported by The Sunderland Echo.

What’s the word, then?

The 20-year-old has been in exquisite form for the Black Cats so far this season, scoring 15 goals in 23 League One starts and 16 in all competitions – as per Transfermarkt – for Jack Ross’ side, who are hopeful of an immediate return to the Championship following their relegation last term.

Maja’s rejection of a new contract offer at the Stadium of Light has left them in a perilous position though, seeing as the youngster’s current deal is set to expire in the summer.

Who should replace Marko Arnautovic if he leaves West Ham? FFC’s James Jones has the answer! Check out the video below to find out…

Sunderland must now sell Maja this month to attain a significant sum for their prize asset, or risk losing him for a mere compensation fee at the end of the season.

Would he suit West Ham?

In a year or two, yes. Maja is a powerful striker with a fantastic eye for goal, but he would perhaps struggle to make the jump from League One to the Premier League immediately. Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini currently has Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez, Andy Carroll and Lucas Perez at his disposal, so the youngster would struggle to continue his development in east London through regular game-time.

The aforementioned deal, which would see Maja sign for the club and then return to Sunderland for 18 months, seems an ideal move for all parties, especially for the reported £3m fee being touted by The Sunderland Echo.

West Ham would secure Maja’s services in the long run at little cost but keep him at a level where he is clearly thriving and learning by the game, while Sunderland wouldn’t lose a key figure in their promotion push mid-season.

As reported by Spanish outlet Don Balon, Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane has told Mauricio Pochettino that if he is to ever leave the club, he wants it to be to Real Madrid.

What’s the story?

The kind of goalscoring impact Harry Kane has brought to the English Premier League in recent seasons is bound to attract attention and a big fear for Tottenham fans is that he leaves the club at some point, leaving them without his talisman presence.

A worry then that Don Balon report Zinedine Zidane is ready to welcome him with open arms at Real Madrid, with the player privately revealing to Mauricio Pochettino that if he does leave London, his first choice destination is the La Liga giants.

The website say that while Kane is happy at Spurs at the moment, his ambitions could change after next year’s World Cup.

Destined for greatness?

While Harry Kane’s reputation is growing all the time at Spurs, to truly reach his potential perhaps he needs a move to one of the giants of world football and Real Madrid of course fit that description. A move to another English Premier League outfit seems unlikely, meaning the list of super-clubs he could join is small indeed.

Surrounded by the creative superstars of Real Madrid, his goalscoring contribution could be taken to new levels, which would be remarkable considering he’s already scored 112 goals in 175 appearances for Spurs.

If he stays at Tottenham for the rest of his career, he’ll likely always been a prolific talent, but to truly have a stellar career full of trophy wins, does he need a club like Madrid?

Tottenham Hotspur star Eric Dier has revealed that he wants to emulate Arsenal legend Tony Adams, according to reports from the London Evening Standard.

Dier joined Spurs from Sporting Lisbon last summer as a defender, but the Englishman has been recently deployed in a central midfield role by manager Mauricio Pochettino early in the season.

It seems that Dier’s rather unconventional upbringing of being born in England but growing up in Portugal has helped him play in a more advanced position, however the 21-year-old admitted that he wants to become a great leader like former Arsenal centre-back Tony Adams.

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Adams is one of the Gunners’ greatest icons, so Dier’s admiration for the ex-Arsenal man could displease Tottenham supporters given the hatred between both sets of fans.

“Tottenham fans might not be happy with me for this, but I met Tony Adams quite a few times. He came away with us when I played for England when I was younger and it was great to be around him.

“I think it was when I was with the Under-19s. One day in training we were a player short so he trained with us – and it was great.

“It was unbelievable. I don’t know how old he was at the time by his body was past it, yet he managed to cope because he could read the game so well and just talked non-stop.

“I hope leadership is something I grow into more. It is something that comes naturally as you become more cemented in a team. I have only been here a year but hopefully I can become one.”

The Lilywhites managed to grab their first win of the season in a 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Sunday after three successive draws, pushing them up to 12th in the table.

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Sections of the Sheffield United support are expressing their discontent with the ominous sound of boos, despite their recent run of good form launching the Blades into a lofty 5th place, six points off the top and firmly in playoff contention.

The signing of Dean Hammond will add stability, and Che Adams appears to be finding form in League One. After the disappointment of Nigel Clough’s second season in charge, could the Blades finally be on the up?

It’s been difficult for Sheffield United fans, where Clough was supposed to be their saviour, he largely filled the squad with mediocre players – even at League One level. With Nigel Adkins now in charge, the Blades are well suited to at least challenge for promotion.

After Fleetwood disposed of seemingly imperial Burton, only to be subsequently tanked 3-0 by Adkins’ side, a feeling that anybody can beat anybody in this league is starting to form.

However, the club need to shift some of the deadwood out of the club after the last few transfer windows.

Here are FIVE Blades to bounce in the New Year Sales…

PAUL COUTTS

It’s been less than a year since the Scot arrived at Bramall Lane, but it simply isn’t working out for the former Derby County man.

The 27-year old can’t seem to find a starting place in the side, amid suggestions he continually gives the ball away in good positions. With even Jamal Campbell-Ryce available in wide areas, Coutts’ departure is unlikely to cause huge upset in the squad.

MICHAEL HIGDON

Higdon has recently been loaned out to Oldham, hoping to rediscover some of the form that saw him become a mainstay at Motherwell a few years ago.

The former NEC man has suffered with injuries since arriving back in England from Holland, and the Blades look well stocked in forward positions. Connor Salmon already backs up the likes of Billy Sharp and Matt Done.

Likely to garner some sort of fee, if Higdon impresses and proves he is injury fee, Adkins should sell up.

FLORENT CUVELIER

The Belgian ace has been seriously unfortunate with injuries, having picked up an ACL tear during a brief loan spell with Port Vale last year.

Moving then to Burton on a similar deal, the former Stoke City youngster impressed during the club’s title run towards the end of last season. Scoring against Hartlepool to secure a crucial win, the player once again picked up an injury and played no further part in the title run in.

A shame really, just as he was getting going. Adkins could be wise to sell the 23-year old, if he can.

JAY MCEVELEY

Seem rather odd to sell your captain mid-season, right? Wrong.

The former Scotland international seems to have been hampered by his appointment as team captain earlier this summer, and has put in some shaky performances. Particularly the 3-1 reversal at the hands of Bury last month.

Where he is now out injured, the backline look far more assured and a decent run of results have followed. Unfortunately for the former Blackburn youngster, his injury has only highlighted that the defence is better off without him.

MARC MCNULTY

Perhaps it could be risky, selling a young striker who appears to be blessed with decent potential. The former Livingston man has shown in glimpses he has the potential to be a decent frontman, but his departure could be managed pretty easily.

Matt Done and Billy Sharp look to be the first-choice front line, with Connor Salmon and Che Adams able to provide – even Jose Baxter could be deployed up top.

A return to Scotland may be wise for all parties.

Whilst the Gunners may have admittedly slipped up in the Premier League in their last two outings – against the respective powerhouses of both West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City – Arsene Wenger’s side have still performed rather well across their domestic duties this season.

Yet because Claudio Ranieri’s overachieving Leicester City have nonetheless maintained their impressive form right among the upper echelons of the league table, Arsenal seemingly haven’t performed quite well enough. If the Foxes can continue to dominate their individual matches on an almost week-to-week basis, then surely the Gunners must as well…

In a subsequent turn of events for fans of both sides this season however, Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez has recently seen his name linked with a whole host of clubs in 2015/16, including Arsenal. The pressure is on for the long-term Emirates boss in what could very well turn out to be one of the 66-year-old’s last major seasons on the top-flight managerial scene.

So then, could Riyad Mahrez really turn out a success at the Emirates, or does this loose paper talk simply represent nothing more than curious headline making at best?

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Well, although this particular transfer story would have likely been laughed off quickly had it been raised a mere matter of months ago, Mahrez is a player who is certainly on the up. The 24-year-old Algerian international has enjoyed a campaign to remember so far, consistently providing fans with a fair few goals and an abundance of assists to match.

The rapidly emerging Foxes man has been in dazzling form all season to be fair. His technical skill in front of goal has been effective to say the very least, the partnership formed between he and Jamie Vardy has proved too much to handle on occasion this term, and as the flying wide-man is looking more and more hungry with every passing match, maybe the good times have only just begun for Riyad Mahrez.

At 24-years-old, the Algerian star still theoretically has enough left in the tank to really make a name for himself in the Premier League. If he had been playing for a more technically gifted side – an outfit obviously superior than the determined Foxes – then perhaps the quick-footed no. 26 could have sparkled even brighter this season.

Arsenal could therefore arrive as the perfect destination for the current Leicester favourite. Although Mahrez is obviously highly valued by his current employers, the lure of the Emirates often proves tempting – especially for the many foreign imports who come to sample the notorious management style of a certain Arsene Wenger.

That said, although Arsenal would arguably suit the Algerian international down to the ground this January – do the Gunners even need him? Mahrez is a good player for sure, but question marks still surround his overall quality.

This is a talent who has only really just started to impress in the Premier League after all. It should arguably take a lot more achievement than that to be signed at the Emirates, especially for the kind of fee Leicester City will likely be asking for. The Premier League has become entirely unbalanced when it comes to genuine valuation over transfer fees recently, so even if Arsene Wenger was in-fact interested in the Foxes play-maker this January, it remains hard to imagine the Gunners spending over the odds in their pursuit of the reported target.

Although the Emirates faithful currently pay witness to a rather lengthy injury list at the moment – especially concerning several of Wenger’s most prominent attacking options – Mahrez is ultimately not the man to improve their season. Arsenal already pay host to a succession of players in a similar mould anyway, so perhaps some good old fashioned leadership quality should be sourced at the Emirates this January above all else. Lord knows the Gunners need it…

Riyad Mahrez has certainly looked good this season – but as we are yet to see how well he responds when the going gets tough down at the King Power Stadium – now is not the time for Arsenal to be making desperate panic buys in the January transfer window.

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Whilst nothing can quite be taken for granted within the modern game, the 2015/16 campaign looks like it will continue to haunt Aston Villa and their newly installed manager, as they aim to avoid the ever looming threat relegation.

No sensible Villa fan needs reminding of the current plight their team faces in the Premier League – but Remi Garde’s new side have only picked up one solitary win to their name throughout the entirety of the current season, subsequently suffering ten painful losses as a result of their poor form.

The January transfer window could therefore offer the Midlands-based club a way out of the dreaded relegation zone before the situation becomes truly unworkable. In light of Aston Villa’s reported interest in QPR’s in-form striker – Charlie Austin – last summer, Remi Garde has since seen his side linked with the 26-year-old Englishman once again this season, acting as a potential light at the end of the tunnel for the Villa Park faithful.

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However, could Aston Villa really get their hands on the rapidly emerging centre-forward this January, or have the Villans already missed the boat on signing Charlie Austin.

Well, if his most recent form is anything to go by, the current Queens Park Rangers hit-man really could help out Remi Garde’s team rather dramatically in 2015/16.

Austin certainly knows how to find the back of the net on the basis of what he achieved in the Premier League last season – and although he may look like a somewhat outdated traditional English striker of yesteryear, the 26-year-old also has a decent amount of technical ability under his belt.

When it comes to effectively holding up the ball in the final third, linking up with the rest of his teammates across the pitch, and entertaining his respective fan-base with some really well taken finishes, Charlie Austin rarely seems to disappoint. He is also just as useful on the deck as he is in the air, successfully proving able to marry the physical side of the English game with some impressive technical skill at times.

Although QPR had somewhat unrealistically set a £15million price-tag on their widely coveted striker last summer, the London club currently find themselves without much bargaining power, languishing in 15th place in the Championship. Aston Villa could well prove the ones to tempt Austin this January then.

Yes, he may be a tad over-rated, and he wouldn’t likely act as an overnight success at Villa Park should he eventually make the move, but could the current Loftus Road favourite serve to improve Remi Garde’s options in 2015/16? There’s ultimately not much doubt.

However, whether or not Aston Villa will remain in the Premier League beyond the realms of this season remains up for debate. The Midlanders haven’t yet been relegated from the English first division, but that rather trivial fact simply fails to help the struggling Villans out of their current predicament.

The club have already spent a fair amount on transfers throughout the summer, and as very few Aston Villa players have actually done their fans justice this term, maybe the writing is well and truly on the wall.

Charlie Austin himself probably wouldn’t be overly excited about the prospect of joining the worse placed team currently operating in the Premier League. Put in no uncertain terms whatsoever, Aston Villa look utterly hopeless at the minute – and although Remi Garde does in-fact seem to offer a fair amount of promise in the dug-out, the problems at Villa Park evidently run way deeper than poor managerial decision making alone.

Therefore, unless the Villans somehow manage to improve their fortunes out on the pitch sooner rather than later, it remains difficult to picture Charlie Austin turning out at Villa Park in the New Year.

Both West Brom and Newcastle have subsequently been linked with the in-form striker of late, which simply doesn’t bode well for Garde’s luckless outfit when all is said and done.

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A new cult hero appears to be emerging on Merseyside, and it sure isn’t Jurgen Klopp.

Across Stanley Park from the German lies a 21-year old Bosnian midfielder entering his second season as an Everton player.

His name is Muhamed Besic.

Amid the array of exciting names plying their trade at Goodison Park, the former Ferencvárosi  man has largely gone unnoticed since his arrival in 2014.

While the likes of John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku take many of the plaudits in the national press, diehard fans on social media have not missed the Bosnian international’s recent performances.

A household name he may not be, but Toffees fans on Twitter are sweet on their £4m midfielder, believing him to be one of their most exciting players.

He had an eventual first few minutes, creating the first real opportunity of the game by pressing forward with a direct run before hitting the post.

However,, his game was curtailed by a recurrence of his hamstring issue, much to the dismay of the Everton faithful.

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Jurgen Klopp hasn’t been able to stamp his mark on the Liverpool squad just yet.

No doubt, the players are steadily adapting to his ‘gegenpressing’ philosophy but the Mersey outfit recruited sparingly during the January transfer window and until he can bring his own players in, the Reds will never be a proper Klopp side.

But come the end of the season, the German gaffer will have enjoyed the best part of nine months to analyse the talent already at his disposal and will be handed a sizeable transfer budget to improve his squad accordingly.

Logic suggests Klopp will turn to the Bundesliga as his predominant recruitment pool. The former Mainz and Dortmund boss knows the division – and most importantly, where all the transfer gems are kept – like the back of his hand.

With that in mind and the coming transfer window not as far away as it may seem, Football Fancast have taken a look at FIVE Bundesliga stars reportedly on Liverpool’s summer radar.

NEVEN SUBOTIC

Liverpool may have just agreed a pre-contract with Schalke centre-half Joel Matip but their options at the heart of defence still require further improvement, with Kolo Toure moving on and Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren both failing to convince.

In that regard, it’s hard to look past Jurgen Klopp’s long-time ally Neven Subotic, who not only played under him at Borussia Dortmund but also former club Mainz – arriving at Westfalenstadion together back in summer 2008.

The Serbian international has spent much of his career in the shadow of World Cup-winning centre-back partner Mats Hummels but he’s a very talented defender in his own right, offering a sharp turn of pace, a strong reading of the game and a penchant for last-ditch tackles.

Subotic’s Dortmund career appears to be coming to an end. Injury problems have seen the 6 foot 2 defender slump behind Sokratis in the pecking order and his contract will enter its final two years come the summer window, making it an ideal time for the Black-Yellows to sell.

GRANIT XHAKA

A number of Premier League clubs are tracking Granit Xhaka ahead of the summer transfer window, including Liverpool, amid yet another strong campaign with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Indeed, the Switzerland international has averaged the seventh-most successful passes per match of any player involved in Europe’s five leading top flights this season, alongside 2.5 tackles and 3.1 interceptions per match.

The 23-year-old has been dubbed ‘young Schweinsteiger’ by former manager Ottmar Hitzfeld and he boasts a similar style of play to the Manchester United star, as a hardworking and aggressive centre-mid who excels in monopolising possession.

He could be the ideal signing to add playmaking quality to Liverpool’s otherwise industrious midfield and Gladbach appear set to sell in the summer. Xhaka’s contract includes a £27million release clause for summer 2017, making the coming window their best chance to secure a larger fee.

LEROY SANE

Schalke starlet Leroy Sane has set the Bundesliga alight this season, bagging five goals and four assists in 15 starts to emerge as one of the most exciting prospects throughout the division.

He’s also averaged 2.8 successful dribbles per match and muscled his way into Joachim Lowe’s plans for the German national team, picking up his first cap in November, all the more impressively at just 20 years of age.

The left-footed attacker has been tipped to reach the very top level of the game and resultantly, is a rumoured target of practically every major club in European football. That includes Liverpool but they may struggle to meet Sane’s £40million valuation and fend off interest from the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.

JAVIER HERNANDEZ

Having shown what he’s capable of in front of goal with a regular starting berth, Javier Hernandez could make a very sudden return to the Premier League next summer after moving to Bayer Leverkusen at the start of the season.

Indeed, since the £7.3million switch, the former Manchester United super-sub has netted 22 times across all competitions – including five strikes in the Champions League – and claimed the Bundesliga’s Player of the Year award for November.

Already well-established as a Premier League goal-scorer, boasting three campaigns of double figures in the top flight from his United tenure, English clubs have inevitably found themselves drawn to the Mexico international over the last few months.

Liverpool and Arsenal have been tipped to duke it out for the 27-year-old’s signature this summer and in comparison to ever-benched target man Christian Benteke, he’s certainly a good fit for Jurgen Klopp’s high-pressing philosophy.

MARIO GOTZE

A lack of marquee signings has plagued Liverpool in recent years but their drought at the top end of the transfer market could be brought to a close this summer with a swoop for Bayern Munich star Mario Gotze.

The German international is perhaps best famed for scoring the winning goal at the 2014 World Cup but he’s really struggled at club level over the last few years, finding himself a peripheral figure in Pep Guardiola’s plans and now amid a lengthy injury bout.

But the 23-year-old was widely regarded as one of world football’s most exciting young talents whilst dazzling under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, where he claimed back-to-back Bundesliga titles and reached a Champions League final, and could look to revive his career by linking up with the German gaffer once again.

The attacking midfielder would certainly enhance the quality of Liverpool’s starting Xi and with his contract due to expire at the end of next season, a bid around the £25million mark this summer will probably convince the Bavarians to sell.

It’s not just been bad for Aston Villa, it’s been downright horrific.

From start to end, top to bottom, the Villains have been awful, both on and off the pitch. The team have been rocked by a number of off-the-pitch allegations, whilst on it they’ve struggled for form all season. This has led many fans to question whether back-to-back relegations could be on the cards.

It’s a rarity, but when it does happen, it can be devastating. Ask Wolves, Wigan Athletic or Blackpool. All have been Premier League sides in the past decade at least, but they’ve all fallen to multiple relegations in as many seasons and it looks like Villa could go the same way.

When Villa fans came away with three points from the south coast from the opening weekend win over Bournemouth, few would have expected to end up in this mess. Few football fans in general would have thought that a team flirting with European competitions a decade ago would end up in this situation, but at the end of the day, that’s modern football.

The team are relegated, there’s no question about it. Yes, it hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but they’re as good as down and a major rebuilding job is needed in the summer. There’s great tension between the players, the fans and the board and it’s even been described as “toxic” by former Villa star Stan Collymore, who has often bore the brunt of fan frustration on social media this season.

But it seems that at one point or another, Villa fans will have to make peace with owner Randy Lerner and the players, because they’re going nowhere with the current atmosphere.

Lerner has tried and failed to sell the club for at least two years and it seems there is no Saudi Prince that is going to come along and save them.

Villa Park is a cauldron of hate, and with every goal conceded the mood worsens. 40,000 still flock to the ground most weeks, and what do they see? 11 players who don’t even look like they want to work together. Branded a disgrace by Jamie Carragher, most professionals would be furious with such comments.

But there’s a real lack of fight, of passion, of hunger. At Sunday League level players show fight and passion, even if they’re being played off the park by opponents they know are simply a better side.

There are players in that Villa dressing room who should know better. Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott have been singled out on multiple occasions this season, and rightly so, too. Whilst their overall performances have been no worse, as local lads and leaders, they should be showing the youngsters and foreigners what it means to wear the shirt.

There’s been none of that and Villa fans must face the prospect of back-to-back relegations if things don’t improve. The Championship is a tough league to get out off, after-all.

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