Mooy primed for Premier League debut
FOOTBALL AARON Mooy has declared that he and Huddersfield Town are not setting any limits for themselves as player and club embark on their inaugural Premier League seasons.
The Socceroo will play a key midfield role after the Terriers paid a $17 million transfer fee to make his deal from Man- chester City permanent as they again aim to overcome the odds, this time by staying up.
Huddersfield are the bookies’ favourites to return to the Championship ($1.55 according to TAB). Last year, many pundits predicted they would drop to the third tier.
The Terriers kick off their season away to Crystal Palace, the scene of their last English top-flight game 45 years ago.
Huddersfield boss David Wagner granted Mooy a late start after his Socceroos commitments in June capped off a gruelling 61-game season.
Mooy, who was playing for Melbourne City 16 months ago, is relishing the prospect of playing in the world’s most popular league.
“That’s what can happen in football, everything can change quick – either good or bad. Luckily I’ve got a chance to play in the Premier League,’’ Mooy said.
“My full focus is on doing my best and becoming better.
“It makes you think a little bit more, doing everything you can to try and have a positive season. Everything – you push yourself a bit harder, your nutrition’s a bit better, it’s a big opportunity for me and I’m really focused for it.”
Mooy said he had caught up on fitness despite his shorter pre-season after an arduous pre-season camp in the Austrian alps.
With many also tipping Frank de Boer’s Crystal Palace to struggle, tomorrow is a vital scene-setter for both clubs.
“I’m sure it (Palace) will be a hard game,” Mooy said.
“Every game will be a hard game this season.’’
Kyrgios faces Zverev
NICK Kyrgios will look to keep alive his unbeaten record against fellow next-gen star Alexander Zverev when the pair face off in the Rogers Cup third round in Canada. Australian Kyrgios was a straightsets winner over Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi in Montreal on Wednesday, needing only 63 minutes to see off the world No.38. The 22-year-old won the secondround ATP clash 6-2 6-3, firing 10 aces to Lorenzi’s one and winning 96 per cent of points on his first serve. The result continues Kyrgios’ good form at the tournament after he defeated Viktor Troicki in 51 minutes in the first round.
Irwin-Hill in doubt
AUSTRALIAN punter Sam IrwinHill’s hopes of playing with the Dallas Cowboys appear doomed after the NFL team signed veteran Chris Jones to a hefty contract extension. Bendigo-born Irwin-Hill impressed and showed his utility value for the Cowboys in last week’s pre-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals when he also handled goal-kicking duties and booted the game-winning field goal. The Cowboys, however, signed incumbent punter Jones on Wednesday to a four-year $US8.7 million ($A11 million) contract that included a $US2.5 million ($A3.2 million) signing bonus. Irwin-Hill also faces a tough task to usurp veteran Dallas kicker Dan Bailey, who has not missed a field goal in training camp, has 89.5 per cent career field goal accuracy and is signed with the Cowboys until 2020. Irwin-Hill, 26, received rave reviews for his dual puntingkicking role in the Cowboys’ 20-18 win against the Cardinals last week and should receive interest from other NFL teams if he is cut.
Lone racer steps up
BOTSWANA’S Isaac Makwala has run and won the loneliest race of the athletics world championships on his way to the 200m final. Makwala was barred from Monday’s heats and Tuesday’s 400m by the IAAF for medical reasons after suffering a stomach virus. But he was given an unexpected reprieve on Wednesday to belatedly contest the 200m. First he had to run a solo heat from the notoriously difficult inside lane, made even more difficult by wet conditions, inside 20.53 seconds to reach the semifinals. Although conditions were much worse than competitors had in the first round, with the rain pouring down in the London Stadium, Makwala sped around the wet track in 20.20 seconds. Barely two hours later, he had to run again in the semi-finals, where he again copped the inside lane, made even more difficult by the accumulation of rainwater. But he still managed to finish second in 20.14 seconds, two hundredths of a second behind American Isiah Young, who was the fastest qualifier. “I’m still running with my heart broken, I was ready to run the 400, that’s the race I’ve been training for,” he said. “The crowd ... helped me to believe.”