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Oliver Norwood

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Oliver Norwood
Norwood with Fulham in 2018
Personal information
Full name Oliver James Norwood[1]
Date of birth (1991-04-12) 12 April 1991 (age 33)[2]
Place of birth Burnley, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Stockport County
Number 26
Youth career
2007–2009 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Manchester United 0 (0)
2010 → Carlisle United (loan) 6 (0)
2011–2012 → Scunthorpe United (loan) 15 (1)
2012 → Coventry City (loan) 18 (2)
2012–2014 Huddersfield Town 80 (8)
2014–2016 Reading 81 (4)
2016–2019 Brighton & Hove Albion 33 (0)
2017–2018 → Fulham (loan) 36 (5)
2018–2019 → Sheffield United (loan) 23 (2)
2019–2024 Sheffield United 207 (6)
2024– Stockport County 1 (0)
International career
2006–2007 England U16 9 (2)
2007 England U17 3 (0)
2010–2011 Northern Ireland U19 7 (3)
2009–2012 Northern Ireland U21 11 (4)
2009 Northern Ireland B 1 (0)
2010–2018 Northern Ireland 57 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 August 2024 (UTC)

Oliver James Norwood (born 12 April 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for EFL League One club Stockport County.

Norwood began his career with Manchester United, and had loan spells at Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United and Coventry City before moving permanently to Huddersfield Town and then Reading. He then achieved three consecutive promotions to the Premier League with three clubs: Brighton, Fulham and Sheffield United between 2017 and 2019, and again with the latter in 2023. Although he was born in England, and represented that country at under-17 level, he has represented Northern Ireland at every level from under-19 to the senior team.

Club career

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Manchester United

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Early career

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Born in Burnley, Lancashire, Norwood began his football career playing for his brother's team in his home town. He was spotted by Manchester United scouts when he was 6 years old and joined the club at the age of 7. After eight appearances for Manchester United's under-18s side in 2005–06 and 2006–07, he joined the club as a trainee in July 2007. He became a regular in the under-18s team in 2007–08, scoring twice in 22 appearances, and he made his debut for the reserve team in a 2–1 away win over Middlesbrough on 6 November 2007. The following season, he scored nine goals in 28 appearances for the under-18s, as well as appearing a further 10 times for the reserves. His form prompted the club to sign him on a professional contract in July 2009.

2009–10 season

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2009–10 was a big season for Norwood, as he made the full step up to the reserve team and also received his first call-up to the first-team for their Champions League group stage match away to Wolfsburg.[3] However, although he made the trip to Germany, Norwood was not named in the 18-man match-day squad.[4]

Carlisle United (loan)

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On 16 September 2010, Norwood signed for Carlisle United on a one-month emergency loan contract, following a knee injury to Carlisle captain Paul Thirlwell.[5] He made his debut for the Cumbrian side on 18 September 2010 in a 0–0 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, playing the full 90 minutes of the game.[6] Norwood made a total of seven appearances during his loan spell, with six coming in the league, before his stay was cut short by injury in October 2010.[7]

Scunthorpe United (loan)

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On 24 August 2011, Norwood signed for Scunthorpe United on a six-month loan.[8] He made his debut for Scunthorpe in the side's 2–1 League Cup second round defeat at home to Newcastle United on 25 August 2011, when he played the full 90 minutes plus extra time.[9] His league debut came just two days later with another start in a 3–2 defeat away at Sheffield Wednesday on 27 August 2011.[10] His first league goal of the season came in Scunthorpe's draw at home to Huddersfield Town on 25 October 2011, scoring the opener on 10 minutes; the game ended 2–2.[11] Norwood received the first red card of his career in Scunthorpe's 3–2 away defeat to Notts County on 26 November 2011, when he was sent off for a foul on Jeff Hughes.[12] Norwood played a total of 16 starts and scored once during his loan spell before returning to parent club Manchester United in January 2012.[13]

Coventry City (loan)

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Norwood completed a loan switch to Championship side Coventry City on the January 2012 deadline day, and remained on loan until the end of the season.[14] Norwood made his Coventry City debut in the team's 3–2 home defeat to Ipswich Town on 4 February 2012, coming on as a 25th-minute substitute for David Bell;[15] his first start for the club came in their next game: a 2–0 defeat on 11 February 2012 away to Reading.[16] On 21 March 2012, he scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Cardiff to earn a point for the Sky Blues.[17] He scored his second Coventry City goal in the 2–0 home win against Portsmouth on 24 March 2012.[18]

Huddersfield Town

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At the end of the 2011–12 season, Norwood confirmed that he was rejecting Manchester United's offer of a contract extension to pursue first-team football. In June 2012, Manchester United agreed compensation packages for Norwood with Championship clubs Barnsley and Huddersfield Town.[19] Norwood rejected Barnsley's offer on 29 June,[20] and he signed a three-year contract with Huddersfield later that day.[21] He made his league debut in a 1–0 away defeat to Cardiff City on 17 August. Norwood scored his first goal for the Terriers with the opener in a 3–1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium on 19 September.[22]

Reading

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On 19 August 2014, Norwood was spotted in the crowd at the Madejski Stadium watching his current club, Huddersfield Town, playing the club he would soon join. He had his medical the following day, and then agreed personal terms the day after that. The fee was described by Huddersfield as a "significant and undisclosed fee". He took the number 6 shirt. Norwood made his Reading debut as a second-half substitute in the 4–0 defeat by Nottingham Forest on 23 August 2014.

Brighton & Hove Albion

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On 3 August 2016, Norwood signed a three-year contract with Brighton & Hove Albion.[23] On 16 August 2016, Norwood made his debut in the 3–0 win over Rotherham United.[24]

During the 2016/17 season, he played 33 times as Brighton & Hove Albion earned promotion to the Premier League after finishing as Runners Up to Newcastle United in The Championship.[25]

Fulham (loan)

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During July 2017, Norwood joined EFL Championship side Fulham on a season-long loan deal following Brighton gaining promotion to the Premier League.[26] He scored his first goal for Fulham in a 2–1 loss at Burton Albion on 16 September 2017.[27]

During his loan spell, Norwood scored 5 goals and played 41 times for Fulham in all competitions including playing in the playoff final, as Fulham earned promotion to Premier League after winning the 2018 Championship play-off final against Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium on 26 May 2018.[28]

Sheffield United (loan)

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On 13 August 2018, Norwood joined Sheffield United in an initial loan deal, with the transfer due to be made permanent in January 2019.[29] He made his debut for the club the following day against Hull City in a league cup tie. The Blades lost 5–4 on penalties following a 1–1 draw with Norwood being the only player to miss in the penalty shoot-out.[30] He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 win over Aston Villa on 1 September 2018, netting a free-kick.[31]

Sheffield United

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On 4 January 2019, Norwood made his deal at Sheffield United permanent.[32] In March 2019 he was selected to the 2018–19 Championship Team of the Season.[33] On 28 April 2019, Norwood saw United promoted to the Premier League.[34] On 10 June 2020, vice-captain Norwood signed a new three-year contract.[35]

On 4 November 2023, he scored a penalty in the tenth minute of stoppage time to grant Sheffield United a 2–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, to be his club's first victory after 11 matches in the 2023–24 season.[36]

On 29 May 2024, the club announced he would be leaving in the summer when his contract expired.[37] He was released on 1 July 2024.

Stockport County

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On 23 August 2024, Norwood joined newly promoted League One club Stockport County on a three-year deal following a successful trial period.[38]

International career

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England youth

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Although he was born in England, Norwood's heritage is Northern Irish; it is this heritage that has allowed him to represent both England and Northern Ireland in international football. He was first called up to the England under-17 team in September 2007 ahead of their 2008 UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifying matches against Malta, Estonia and Portugal in Estonia from 21 to 26 October 2007.[39] He appeared in all three fixtures, his debut coming in the 6–0 win over Malta on 21 October, in which he came on as a 61st-minute substitute for Harry Forrester.[40] However, the match against Portugal would prove to be his final appearance for an England team.

Northern Ireland youth & B teams

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Norwood made his first appearance for a Northern Ireland team at "B" international level, in a 3–0 defeat away to Scotland B on 6 May 2009; he came on as a substitute for Niall McGinn in the 67th minute, and forced a fingertip save from Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall with a 30-yard free-kick three minutes later.[41] His under-21 debut followed three months later, when he came on as a substitute for Corry Evans in a 2–1 away defeat to Portugal on 12 August 2009.[42] Norwood received national media attention in November 2009 after he scored free-kicks against both Germany and the Czech Republic's under-21 teams.[43]

Norwood's reverse progression through the Northern Irish national teams was completed in May 2010, when he appeared for the under-19 side in the 2010 UEFA Under-19 Championship elite qualifying round. In his first match for the under-19s, against Russia, he scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to salvage a draw after Northern Ireland went 2–0 down shortly into the second half.[44] He then followed this up with a penalty to open the scoring against Italy two days later, only for Italy to win the match 3–2.[45]

Northern Ireland senior team

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Norwood made his debut for the Northern Ireland senior side on 11 August 2010, in a 2–0 friendly defeat away to Montenegro. He came on as a second-half substitute for Sammy Clingan, and in the final few minutes attempted to chip the Montenegrin goalkeeper Mladen Božović, only to send the ball over the bar.[46] He started for the first time in the senior team when Northern Ireland lost 3–0 to Italy on their last game in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.[47]

He retired from international football on 19 August 2019, aged 28.[citation needed]

Style of play

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Norwood is a central midfielder, known for his passing and ability to dictate tempo.[48] He is renowned as a free-kick and set piece specialist and for scoring goals from long range.[49]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 25 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2009–10[50] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010–11[51] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011–12[52] Premier League 0 0 — — 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Carlisle United (loan) 2010–11[51] League One 6 0 — — 1[a] 0 7 0
Scunthorpe United (loan) 2011–12[52] League One 15 1 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 18 1
Coventry City (loan) 2011–12[52] Championship 18 2 — — — 18 2
Huddersfield Town 2012–13[53] Championship 39 3 4 0 0 0 — 43 3
2013–14[54] Championship 40 5 2 1 3 0 — 45 6
2014–15[55] Championship 1 0 — 1 0 — 2 0
Total 80 8 6 1 4 0 — 90 9
Reading 2014–15[55] Championship 38 1 4 1 — — 42 2
2015–16[56] Championship 43 3 5 0 2 0 — 50 3
Total 81 4 9 1 2 0 — 92 5
Brighton & Hove Albion 2016–17[57] Championship 33 0 1 0 3 0 — 37 0
2017–18[58] Premier League 0 0 — — — 0 0
2018–19[59] Premier League 0 0 — — — 0 0
Total 33 0 1 0 3 0 — 37 0
Fulham (loan) 2017–18[58] Championship 36 5 1 0 1 0 3[b] 0 41 5
Sheffield United (loan) 2018–19[59] Championship 23 2 0 0 1 0 — 24 2
Sheffield United Championship 20 1 0 0 0 0 — 20 1
2019–20[60] Premier League 38 1 2 1 1 1 — 41 3
2020–21[61] Premier League 32 0 4 0 1 0 — 37 0
2021–22[62] Championship 44 1 1 0 2 0 2[b] 0 49 1
2022–23[63] Championship 46 2 4 1 1 0 — 51 3
2023–24[64] Premier League 27 1 0 0 1 0 — 28 1
Total 230 8 11 2 7 1 2 0 250 11
Stockport County 2024–25[65] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
Career total 500 28 29 4 18 1 7 0 554 33
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Championship play-offs

International

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As of match played 15 October 2018[66]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Northern Ireland 2010 1 0
2011 4 0
2012 4 0
2013 5 0
2014 7 0
2015 9 0
2016 13 0
2017 9 0
2018 5 0
Total 57 0

Honours

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Brighton & Hove Albion

Fulham

Sheffield United

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline Publishing Group. p. 494. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ Coppack, Nick (7 December 2009). "Young squad fly to Germany". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  4. ^ Ashenden, Mark (8 December 2009). "Wolfsburg 1–3 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  5. ^ "Carlisle United sign Oliver Norwood on emergency loan". BBC Sport. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Carlisle United 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 18 September 2010.
  7. ^ "Norwood injury ends Carlisle loan". BBC Sport. 22 October 2010.
  8. ^ Marshall, Adam (24 August 2011). "Norwood loaned to Scunthorpe". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Scunthorpe 1–2 Newcastle (aet)". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ "Sheffield Wed 3–2 Scunthorpe". BBC Sport.
  11. ^ "Scunthorpe 2–2 Huddersfield". BBC Sport.
  12. ^ "Notts County 3–2 Scunthorpe". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Scunthorpe United hoping to extend Ollie Norwood loan". BBC Sport.
  14. ^ "Norwood Signs on Loan". ccfc.co.uk. Coventry City FC. 31 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  15. ^ "Coventry City 2–3 Ipswich Town". BBC Sport.
  16. ^ "Reading 2–0 Coventry". BBC Sport.
  17. ^ "Cardiff 2–2 Coventry". ccfc.co.uk. Coventry City FC. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Coventry 2–0 Portsmouth". ccfc.co.uk. Coventry City FC. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  19. ^ Goulding, Neil (28 June 2012). "BARNSLEY: Waiting game for Reds as deal for Oliver Norwood is agreed". Sheffield Star. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
  20. ^ "Man Utd midfielder Oliver Norwood rejects Barnsley deal". BBC Sport. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  21. ^ "Norwood joins Huddersfield". ManUtd.com. Manchester United.
  22. ^ "Sheffield Wed 1–3 Huddersfield". BBC Sport.
  23. ^ "Norwood signs for Seagulls". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Brighton & Hove Albion v Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 16 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Watch as Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale scores two identical own goals". Sky Sports. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
    Edwards, Luke (7 May 2017). "Newcastle crowned Championship winners after late Jack Grealish Aston Villa equaliser halts Brighton". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Fulham sign Brighton midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Burton 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  28. ^ a b Cartwright, Phil (26 May 2018). "Aston Villa 0–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  29. ^ "Norwood arrives". Sheffield United F.C. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Carabao Cup: Sheffield United 1–1 Hull City (4–5 pens)". BBC Sport. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  31. ^ "Sheffield United 4–1 Aston Villa: Steve Bruce's side embarrassed by Blades". BBC Sport. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  32. ^ "Norwood arrives". Sheffield United F.C. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  33. ^ "EFL awards: Che Adams, Teemu Pukki & Billy Sharp on Championship shortlist". BBC Sport. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  34. ^ "Sheffield United promoted to Premier League after Leeds draw". BBC Sport. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Sheffield United: Billy Sharp and Oliver Norwood sign new deals". BBC Sport. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  36. ^ "Last-gasp Oliver Norwood penalty earns Sheffield United first win of the season". The Guardian. 4 November 2023.
  37. ^ FC, Sheffield United (29 May 2024). "Retained and released list". Sheffield United FC. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  38. ^ "Norwood joins on three-year deal". www.stockportcounty.com. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  39. ^ "Peacock names squad". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  40. ^ "Lions hit Malta for six". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 21 October 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  41. ^ "Scots take 'B' honours". irishfa.com. Irish Football Association. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  42. ^ "Battling under-21s lose unbeaten run in Portugal". irishfa.com. Irish Football Association. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  43. ^ "The footballers who switched from England to Northern Ireland". Belfast Telegraph. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  44. ^ Sipovich, Mikhail (21 May 2010). "Norwood double denies Russia". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  45. ^ Sturov, Igor (23 May 2010). "Destro sends Italy through to finals". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  46. ^ "Montenegro 2–0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  47. ^ "Italy 3–0 Northern Ireland". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  48. ^ "Oliver Norwood: An expert's view on Reading FC's potential new signing". Get Reading. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  49. ^ "Huddersfield Town free-kick taker Ollie Norwood's 'mango' ball practice for FA Cup". Examiner. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  50. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  51. ^ a b "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  52. ^ a b c "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  53. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  54. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  55. ^ a b "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  56. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  57. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  58. ^ a b "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  59. ^ a b "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  60. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  61. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  62. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  63. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  64. ^ "Games played by Oliver Norwood in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  65. ^ "Oliver Norwood | Football Stats | Stockport County | Season 2024/2025 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  66. ^ "Norwood, Oliver". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  67. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-1-4722-3397-4.
  68. ^ "Championship: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
    "Sheff Utd: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  69. ^ "Championship: Norwich and Leeds dominate PFA selection of team of 2018–19". BBC Sport. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
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