Wheater’s Darlo joy

DAVID WHEATER has taken a few hits – but he’s still standing.

The ex-Middlesbrough and Bolton defender, 35, has returned to the North East as skipper of National League North Darlington after a back injury and a tough time at Oldham.

Wheater, who has joined the Quakers until the end of the season, treated team-mates to a rendition of Elton John’s hit I’m Still Standing on his introduction to the club.

He said: “Alun Armstrong, the gaffer, had been texting me for a while – it was nice to be wanted. And I’ve been with Darlo before on loan.”

Wheater added: “A few more wins and we’re right in there for the play-offs.’’

CHELSEA star Jorginho’s world fell apart in midweek when Italy suffered their humiliating World Cup exit to North Macedonia.

But Blues pal Mason Mount is in no mood to put the boot in.

Mount revealed that, in the build-up to England’s Euro Final clash with the Azzurri, the Italian (right) was king of the wind-up merchants at Stamford Bridge.

Mount said: “I always mention that Jorgy is the joker in the group.

“It’s all about respect. If you look at how far England and Italy had to come to get that opportunity in the final last summer, it was a massive amount of work. So, no, I won’t be giving him jokes or stick about what’s happened with Italy.

“I actually sent him a little message and said, ‘Keep your head up, you’ve had an amazing season and hopefully we can go on this season to win some more things together at Chelsea’.”