I’LL WILL ON MY THREE LIONS MATES

BY

WHEN the Euro 2020 final unfolds tomorrow night, Will Patching’s fervent desire for a victory for Gareth

Southgate’s England takes on added significance by virtue of his personal link with several of the Three Lions squad.

Now back at Oriel Park following a highly successful loan spell with Derry City, Patching spent 13 years at Manchester City until the age of 19 where Phil Foden (inset top) and Jadon Sancho (inset bottom) were colleagues in the club’s academy. “Sancho and Phil were a year below me but they played up a year and it was good to play with them,” recalled Patching (right). “I had some great coaches and learned a lot. I would have been in or around against Marcus Rashford and even Sancho when he came to City, I would have played with him.

“There’s a lot of boys that have just come through to a different level, your Fodens and your Sanchos, Bukayo Saka players like that that would have been or around the same age groups as me when I was younger. It’s crazy to think what they’ve done in such a small space of time. Foden is class. I wish nothing but the best for him. Hopefully they can beat the Italians and bring it home. It’s great for England, I’m an Englishman so I’m always going to be supporting them. I’m buzzing about it so roll on tomorrow.”

Patching, 22, started his second game since returning to Dundalk in Thursday’s 4-0 Europa Conference League win over Newtown.

The midfielder capped a fine 90 minutes by drilling home his side’s third goal - his first for the club since joining 18 months ago. He added: “A good moment, my first goal for Dundalk, I was happy to get it but, more importantly, a win.”