I’LL DO IT FOR DAD
Brighton winger’s inspired form
BRIGHTON winger Anthony Knockaert is determined to win promotion and be named Championship player of the year – to honour a promise made to his late father.
The former Leicester player leads Albion’s challenge against Birmingham at the Amex tonight and wants to crown an emotional season with a return to the Premier League.
Victory would leave the south coast club on the verge of automatic promotion.
When you consider it is only five months since the death of Knockaert’s father, Patrick, it would be a huge achievement for his family.
“From a really bad year in my life, it can be the best season of ® my career,” he said. “And if we do it, then, it’s because my dad is looking over me.
“I’m really proud I have been nominated for the Championship player of the year, too.
“I would love to win it for my family and for what happened with my dad.
“I know he would be very proud of me if I won this trophy.
Fight
“What happened was tough, I’m not going to lie, it was really tough. But it has also made me stronger.
“Every morning when I wake up I think about my dad and think I need to fight for him.”
Knockaert, who is up against Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle and Leeds’ Chris Wood for player of the year, tasted life in the top flight after helping Leicester go up as champions in 2014.
But the prospect of doing it again with Brighton is extra special for the Frenchman.
“It would be, for me, the best promotion ever,” he said. “I promised my dad we would do it, so I have to do it.”
Not that anyone at Brighton is taking going up for granted. Chris Hughton’s side had to battle to beat lowly Blackburn at the weekend and expect the same against Birmingham.
Knockaert, 25, said: “Every point is going to be tough until the end. No one is going to give us a present. But it’s in our hands.
“Huddersfield don’t play until Wednesday and if we win we’ll be 12 points ahead of them.
“I’m really happy in this position. I’d rather be in this position than theirs.”