Shan begs Baggies to dodge the play-offs WITH DORTMUND I WON’T BE JUDE THE OBSCURE

HE has already battled back from a brain tumour, now Leeds have helped mend Dominic Matteo’s broken heart.

United’s promotion to the Premier League after 16 years in exile has finally given Matteo closure on the worst day of his career.

The former Scotland international was Leeds captain when they were relegated in 2004 and he admits he never got over that crushing

JUDE BELLINGHAM aims to emulate Jadon Sancho by becoming a superstar at Borussia Dortmund.

Birmingham have confirmed that the England Under-17 midfielder will leave them for Germany after tomorrow’s final game of the Championship season at home to Derby. Dortmund, who are second in the Bundesliga, have agreed to pay £26million – making him the world’s most expensive 17-year-old – after he snubbed a move to Manchester United.

England star Sancho was given an early chance to prove himself at Dortmund and Bellingham (left) is desperate to be given the same opportunity. “I’m incredibly excited to have joined one of

Europe’s biggest clubs,” he said. “How much they help to improve young players made it an easy decision for me.”

Bellingham, who joined Birmingham as an under-8, has long been tipped for stardom.

He made his pro debut, aged 16 years and 38 days, in August at Portsmouth in the Carabao Cup. That made him Birmingham’s youngest-ever player, surpassing club legend Trevor Francis’s longstanding record.

Blues CEO Dong Ren said: “Jude is an outstanding young player who has the ability, focus and desire to go to the very top.”

Despite Bellingham’s progress this season, managerless Blues are still in danger of going down after failing to win in 13 games.

JIMMY SHAN has urged West Brom to seize automatic promotion and avoid the play-off agony he suffered with them last year. Slaven Bilic’s second-placed Baggies have faltered on the run-in after just three wins in 10 Championship games. But Brentford’s shock loss at Stoke means Albion will clinch BIG CLEAN-UP Leeds city centre after a night of celebrations second if they beat QPR at home tomorrow night. Bilic’s team have drawn 16 of their 45 Championship matches which has kept the Bees and Fulham in the race. Shan (right) is anxious for his old club after leading them last term when they lost in the play-off semi-finals on penalties. He was promoted to replace Darren Moore last March as Albion won all six of his home games but finished fourth. Victories included the second leg of their semi-final 1-0 against Aston Villa but they agonisingly lost on spot-kicks. Shan said: “If they had had a similar kind of home form they Dominic Matteo gives Alan Smith a hug after Leeds were relegated at Bolton would have been over the line by now. The team has performed well this season and played an offensive brand of football but have drawn a lot of games. If they ended in the play-offs it would be a big blow. “It really is a lottery as we found out to our cost last season, which hurt a lot. But the boys in the camp will be thinking it is all in their hands.”