HUNGRY ERIK HAS STOMACH FOR A FIGHT

TODAY is Non-League Day 2018, a chance for the smaller clubs on the football pyramid to take advantage of the international break.

Non-League Day was set up by James Doe in 2010 as a social media experiment after he was inspired by a pre-season trip to Devon to watch QPR play at Tavistock.

The founders certainly see some benefits of the non-league experience, though.

They said: “The vast majority of games still kick off at 3pm, ticket prices are realistic, you can often stand (and drink!) anywhere in the ground and you will always be guaranteed a warm welcome.”

If that sounds like your bag, here are the matches taking place locally this weekend – and don’t miss Huddersfield Town Ladies playing in the Cup at Storthes Hall at 2pm tomorrow. ERIK Durm is not so much hungry for success as ravenous for it.

The 26-year-old German knows what it’s like to be on top of the world, having been in his country’s successful World Cup squad four years ago.

But the former Borussia Dortmund and Mainz player also knows the other end of the scale, being out after hip surgery and then suffering torn ankle ligaments.

A 12-month addition to David Wagner’s squad because of those problems – Town have the option of extending his contract – Durm is now enjoying full fitness and being part of the action in the Premier League.

So have his past problems made him hungrier for success in this next chapter of his career with Town in English football?

“You always have to be hungry for success, this is normal for a football player,” said the seven-times capped international. “It has been so hard for me over the last three years, being injured almost two years – seeing your friends playing the game you want to play.

“I have always found it hard to sit in the stadium when you can’t help the team. So now, for me, it is important that I don’t look in the past all the time.

“I am not injured again.

“I feel as good as I’ve ever felt before, so I am very happy.

“And I am hungry to get the most success we can have with the team.”

Durm described his Premier League involvement as ‘very special’ and was delighted, after playing as a substitute at Everton, to get a full 90 minutes against both Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

“It means a lot to me, and to my family and friends because (with the injuries) it’s also been a tough time for them,” he said. “To be on the pitch for a full 90 minutes, 16 months after playing my last official game, makes me very happy, and also to make starts for my new club. “I will keep on trying my best to get more fitness and you always have to improve yourself, to try and get better each day in training and in the games.” So how is Durm finding the Premier League? “It’s a very, very tough league because all the teams are very strong and very physical,” he said. “The football is very good and there are a lot of one-againstone challenges, especially on the wings. “It’s a great level – for me the best league in the world. “The German league is more tactical. “It’s not so often one versus one, it’s more tactical. “I like the Premier League. It is very physical, which is also part of my game, to run the line up and down.”

For me the Premier is the best league in the world. The German league is more tactical