NO MORE EXCUSES IF I’M GOING TO MAKE PREMIER LEAGUE

JAMES ALABI once shared a pitch with Paul Pogba during a game against Manchester United’s kids, scoring twice for Stoke while Sir Alex Ferguson watched from the stands. His path has certainly deviated from Pogba’s since that day but Alabi, now of Tranmere Rovers and one of Sportsmail’s Search for a Star candidates, is still targeting a Premier League career of his own. This season has been challenging for the 23-year-old striker. After a nine-game goal drought to start the season, he was loaned to National League rivals Dover, where he scored once in 11 matches. This after he scored 17 goals for Chester in the same division last season. Tranmere won promotion to League Two in his absence but with a year on his contract, Alabi wants to use their play-off final win as a chance to climb the Football League ladder. ‘It’s been an up-and-down season but you have got to go again,’ Alabi said. ‘It’s been a tough one mentally but I have got through it. ‘I just want to settle, get my head down. I’m at the stage of my career where I’ve got a point to prove. ‘I’m at my best when I’ve got a point to prove, when my back is against the wall. I feel like now the season coming up is the season where you will see the best of James Alabi.’ Alabi was not in the squad for Tranmere’s play-off final win but was at Wembley to join in the celebrations as they sealed their League Two status. As a teenager, Alabi signed for Stoke after ignoring interest from Millwall and Tottenham. With their Under 21s, he was team-mates with Michael Owen and Peter Crouch when the first-team players needed to build their match fitness. ‘It feels like it was decades ago,’ he said. ‘I have the ability and desire to get to the Premier League. I just have to carry on, get my head down and kick on.’ DaRlIngTon FC are the winners of this season’s Marathonbet #nonleagueChallenge best goal celebration in non-league football, which saw them awarded £20,000 and a friendly against a team of legends. To see Reece Styche’s winning swan dive into a pile of snow against Chorley, go to: nlc.marathonbet.co.uk