Daily Star Sunday

Wolves will not Ratch it up yet

MIG WOULD STAR IN A VIDEO

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JULIE STOTT STEFAN RATCHFORD admits it is frustratin­g watching surprise Super League strugglers Warrington.

But the full-back – one of three England players out injured – insists the club will not panic and throw them back into action.

Ratchford, who is recovering from knee surgery, said: “We’re really down on numbers but I’m being sensible and looking after my body.”

Warrington played superbly in their World Club Series win over Brisbane Broncos last weekend but have lost both Super League games to leave them bottom.

Ratchford and his England team-mate Chris Hill (right) who has had hernia and shoulder injuries, are expected back against Leigh on March 18.

Ben Currie is not due back until mid-June, following a knee reconstruc­tion but will also attend an England training day tomorrow.

Ratchford, 28 – one of six Wolves players in the Wayne Bennett’s training squad – said: “There’s a rehab area for us while the rest of the boys are out on the field.

“It was agreed that everyone would go, including the injured ones, because it’s about getting together and spending time with each other.”

Meanwhile, Catalans star Richie Myler is convinced a French revolution is finally on the way.

The Dragons used to be strong at home but flaky on their travels in Super League.

Last season they ironed out their away-day blues only to get stagefrigh­t in Perpignan.

But former England star Myler believes Super League needs to beware – because the Dragons are now breathing fire at home and away.

He said: “There’s so much passion for rugby league in the south of France.

“There’s the energy from Toulouse doing well and if we get success this year I think the whole place is ready to erupt.”

The Dragons are one of three teams with a 100 per cent record so far, after beating Warrington at home and Hull away – the others being Wigan and leaders Castleford.

The manager who inspired the miraculous 5,000-1 Premier League title triumph last season was axed just nine months later.

And reports claimed that dissastisf­ied senior players complainin­g to the club’s owners led to the decision.

But Schmeichel, one of the most establishe­d players at the King Power Stadium, said: “There’s absolutely no truth in that whatsoever.

“We are players and we can only affect things on the pitch and we haven’t done that. What happens above our heads at boardoom l evel is completely out of our control.

“These reports about meetings, I don’t know where they have come from.”

Schmeichel (right) admitted that the owners were frequent visitors to the Foxes training ground but were unlikely to be influenced by players.

“What I can say is our owners are very hands-on,” he added. “They are in and around the club. They come to practicall­y every game, they come to the training ground and they speak to players all the time.

“We talk to them about all manner of things from the weather to the pitches to whatever but you have to remember that these guys are very, very successful businessme­n and have taken this SIMON MIGNOLET will be waiting by the phone if Hollywood comes calling. The Liverpool keeper played a reluctant part in a Jamie Vardy wondergoal last February – as Leicester stormed to victory at an ecstatic King Power Stadium on their way to the title. That sensationa­l strike (right) in the 2-0 win over Liverpool convinced British screenwrit­er Adrian Butchart there was a movie to be made about the Leicester STEVE MILLAR striker’s incredible story.

The film, tracking Vardy’s meteoric rise from a 16-year-old at Stocksbrid­ge Park Steels to Premier League champion, is still waiting to go into production with the rights having been bought.

But Mignolet admits if Hollywood moguls got in touch wanting to re-enact the forward’s 30-yard showstoppe­r, he would not say no.

He said: “They can still call me if they want to. I would be available!

“It’s a great story and it shows how anything can happen in football – that’s why everybody loves it.” Within a few weeks of that super strike Vardy had a new contract, was negotiatin­g a book deal and bought a £168,000 Bentley Continenta­l GT complete with personalis­ed plate.

But Mignolet, 28, was left reflecting whether he could have done better.

He added: “I always analyse my performanc­es after a game.

“In that game I actually made a few saves but when you see the goal again you wonder what you could have done to prevent it happening.

“There were a few things I could have changed, like my starting

 ??  ?? CALL ME, MAYBE: Mignolet would be happy to re-enact Vardy’s wonder goal KASPER SCHMEICHEL has rubbished reports that player power led to Claudio Ranieri’s shock sacking as Leicester boss.
CALL ME, MAYBE: Mignolet would be happy to re-enact Vardy’s wonder goal KASPER SCHMEICHEL has rubbished reports that player power led to Claudio Ranieri’s shock sacking as Leicester boss.
 ??  ?? FRUSTRATED: Ratchford
FRUSTRATED: Ratchford
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