DON’T POTTER..
He’s Hodgson’s biggest-Eber Palace buy but
vKO 3pm team that’s at the other end of the table from where we have been. “We’ve had two slow starts. Cup games are part of pre-season and we can’t just throw aside opportunities in the cup competitions.” O’Neill has signed experienced pair John Obi Mikel and Steven Fletcher. He said: “They weren’t short of offers. “We’ve brought Fletcher in not just for his goals but his link-up play.“
MICHAEL O’NEILL wants Stoke racing out of the blocks to get back on track for the Premier League.
The Potters have been short-priced favourites in both seasons since their relegation – only to start limply.
The Potters entertain Blackpool in the Carabao Cup with all eyes on whether they can show any kind of early form.
Boss O’Neill (above) said: “We want to have a
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Doncaster today. “I got an injury last season and it was hard for me, so I hope I can steer clear of injuries this term and have a good campaign,” said Brereton.
“I’ve been here a couple of years now and haven’t really played too much, but I think this season will be good for me.
“We have a cup game – our first real game of the season and one we’re really looking forward to.”
BEN BRERETON claims this new campaign can be his breakthrough season at Blackburn.
The 21-year-old striker (right) has managed only two goals since joining from Nottingham Forest two years ago and says he has been hampered by injury.
He scored twice in a friendly against Blackpool in midweek and hopes to continue that form against
CRYSTAL PALACE have completed the £19.5million signing of QPR striker Eberechi Eze – the biggest transfer of boss Roy Hodgson’s Selhurst Park reign. The South London club saw off stiff competition from West Ham, Fulham and West Brom to sign the England Under-21 striker. But Eze is not seen as a replacement for Wilfried Zaha, who has yet to attract a single bid during the current transfer window.
Palace finished the last campaign with a run of seven defeats before a finalday draw with Tottenham, a run that raised questions over Hodgson’s future. The Eagles scored only 31 Premier League goals last season and need to rejuvenate an ageing squad. Eze, who struck 14 goals in the Championship for QPR and provided eight assists last season, is Hodgson’s second signing of the summer after 19-year-old defender Nathan Ferguson from West Brom.
Former Millwall trainee Eze, who can also play as a No.10, said: “The deal definitely shows their belief in me and I want to be here, I want to play, I want to do as well as I can for this club.
“It’s a brilliant opportunity and the style of football they want to play suits me, it’s perfect.”
Palace, who first enquired about Eze (left) in January, had two offers rejected before agreeing to pay about £15m up front, with a potential £4.5m in add-ons.
“Eberechi is a player whose development we have followed closely,” said Palace chairman