Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DYLAN ‘SORRY’ TRIBUTE TO PAL LEFT IN A COMA
DYLAN GROENEWEGEN yesterday apologised from his hospital bed for the crash that left fellow Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen in an induced coma.
Jakobsen (below), 23, was airlifted to hospital with lifethreatening injuries and had facial surgery after the horrific smash yards from the finish on the opening stage at the Tour of Poland.
Groenewegen, who suffered a broken collarbone after appearing to drift across the road, tweeted: “I find it terrible what happened.
“I can’t find the words to describe how sorry I am for Fabio and the others involved.
”What matters most now is Fabio’s health. I think about him all the time.”
Jakobsen’s Belgian team said initial tests showed no sign of brain or spinal injuries.
NORTHERN Ireland boss Ian Baraclough insists that flying left-back Jamal Lewis has the quality and attitude to make a name for himself at Liverpool.
Lewis is being linked with a £10million move to the recentlycrowned Premier League champions after being relegated to the Championship with Norwich City.
And while the 22-year-old is being courted as cover for Andy Robertson – sparking concerns over an initial lack of gametime – Baraclough believes it would be a fantastic move.
“As a player I’d be saying, ‘Where’s the contract, I’ll sign it’,” he said. “Why wouldn’t you want to go to Liverpool? They’re European and Premier League champions.
“As national manager I would see it as a step up and another player in the Premier League for us after Norwich unfortunately dropped out of the Premier League.
“Some people might say, ‘Well he won’t get too much gametime’ but you’re training day in, day out with Jurgen Klopp and the calibre of players that are there.
“Also with the amount of games Liverpool play and how they try to rotate players, I believe he’d get gametime and I think it would improve him as a player.
“If the move happens it’s up to Jamal to knuckle down and make sure he’s at the forefront of the manager’s thoughts.”
Lewis, who made 28 Premier League appearances last season, is contracted until 2023 and Norwich value him well in excess of £10m.
Baraclough worked briefly with the Luton-born defender when he was U21s coach before Michael O’neill fast-tracked him into the senior set-up.
Lewis, who qualifies through his Belfast-born mum Katrina, has won 12 caps since making his debut in a friendly win over South Korea in 2018.
Asked if it was inevitable the talented Canary would be linked with an immediate return to the Premier League, Baraclough said: “Yes, he has all the attributes.
“He’s a level-headed kid and he’s a player who wants to improve. He’s one you’ll find in the gym before training and after training he’s probably one of those you have to keep the reins on to make sure he doesn’t do too much.
“He wants to question you on how to improve and I love players like that. I love to see players who invest time in themselves.”
Baraclough, who succeeded O’neill six weeks ago, thinks Lewis has the perfect men to look up in Steven Davis and Jonny Evans.
Rangers midfielder Davis has amassed 117 caps since making his debut in 2005, while Leicester defender Evans has made 84 appearances over the past 14 years.
“The likes of Steven and Jonny aren’t where they are by chance, they’re there because they haven’t rested on their laurels,” he said.
“To be at that level you have to be at it day in, day out and Jamal’s got those tools.”