
Barnsley sign Villa goalkeeper Gauci on loan
Barnsley have signed goalkeeper Joe Gauci on loan from Aston Villa for the rest of the season.Australia international Gauci, 24, joined Villa 12 months ago from A-League side Adelaide Strikers.He played in both of Villa's Carabao Cup ties before Christmas but will now spend the next few months at Oakwell."This is a brilliant opportunity for myself to come and get some experience in English football and as well be here to help the club gain promotion and get back in the Championship," Gauci told the club's website, external.Barnsley are ninth in League One, two points outside the play-offs with 18 games to go.

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Daily Mirror
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Wrexham's James McClean speaks out on scary car crash – 'Smoke was everywhere'
Wrexham captain James McClean has opened up on the car crash he was involved in on his way to training earlier this year and how he was lucky to escape unscathed Wrexham skipper James McClean has recounted the harrowing moment he narrowly escaped severe injury following a car crash. The ex- Republic of Ireland star was driving to training on January 22 when his Audi RS6 hit a roundabout near Wrexham Golf Club. Despite extensive damage to his vehicle, the 36-year-old walked away from the accident with only minor injuries after being checked over as emergency services attended the scene. In an astonishing show of resilience, McClean didn't let the scare stop him and made it to training later that day once his car was removed. He even took to the pitch for Wrexham 's important League One match against Birmingham City at the Racecourse Ground the next night, which ended in a 1-1 draw. McClean has now opened up about the incident, acknowledging he was fortunate to avoid more serious consequences. Discussing the ordeal during the latest instalment of the ' Welcome to Wrexham ' docuseries, McClean said: "It was a really foggy morning and it was hard to see. I thought I had more road than I did. I came out from behind a lorry and the roundabout just appeared. "For the next five seconds it was just a blur. Then the car stopped and there's all this smoke coming out of the car. The door was quite wedged and I was banging it to get it open." Reflecting on the seriousness of the incident, he added: "I just see it as there's bigger things ahead for me and it just wasn't my time. I was saved that day. It was a scary experience, but it just shows you how quickly things can change." McClean's wife Erin also expressed her alarm upon hearing about the accident via a text from her husband, with whom she shares four children. "I got a message from James saying he'd just been in a crash and he sent me a picture of the car," she said. "I didn't believe it. "My heart just started racing and then I rang him straight away. He answered and I was like, 'Are you hurt?' He was like, 'I'm actually okay.' I just jumped in the car and went straight to Wrexham. He came out and was like, 'I'm going to training.'" McClean previously exposed the vile taunts that Erin faced online after the accident. Taking to Instagram following his appearance against Birmingham, he posted: "Now that the game is out of the way, to address yesterday. An experience I never wish to encounter again. "I am blessed and thankful I managed to walk away with minor injuries and return home to my family, though much to the disappointment of some smelly scruffy pathetic creatures that messaged my wife online. Thank you for the messages of support." McClean made the move to Wrexham from Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed sum in the summer of 2023, having previously played in the Premier League with Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion. He has been instrumental in helping the club, which is owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, secure automatic promotion in the past two seasons, propelling them from League Two to the Championship. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.

Leader Live
38 minutes ago
- Leader Live
England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton hopes to ‘live up to the legacy' of Mary Earps
Earps was instrumental in inspiring the Lionesses to their first major trophy on home turf in 2022, but had been slipping in boss Sarina Wiegman's favour behind 24-year-old Chelsea shot-stopper Hampton before announcing she would be stepping away from international football last month. Hampton felt her predecessor did not deserve the 'scrutiny' she experienced in the aftermath, but conceded she was 'not expecting' a reply to a congratulatory text she sent Earps, 32, after she made her shock decision public. living out the dream of a little girl from the Midlands who never stopped believing. proud to be representing my country at another major tournament🏴 — Hannah Hampton (@hannahhampton_) June 5, 2025 'We're going to miss her as a person here,' Hampton said. 'She's a big personality in this team and she glued us all together at times when we needed (her) to. 'So, I think it's been difficult for everyone to come to terms with what her decision is, but we have to respect that. And now I've got to just go and live up to her legacy. I'll give it my best shot for sure.' In April, Wiegman confirmed the younger keeper was 'a little bit ahead' of two-time FIFA Best winner Earps. 'First of all we have to obviously respect what (Earps') decision is,' said Hampton. 'I think there's been quite a bit of scrutiny that she probably doesn't deserve with everything that she's achieved in the game and obviously (she's) put women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation, aspiring to now be a goalkeeper. 'It was never really a thing and Mary's changed that. There's so many more young boys and girls taking part in goalkeeping, which was never the case when I was growing up. 'I think I've done everything I need to do. I've sent her a text and I congratulated her on a very successful international career and I think that's all I really can do. 'I don't think there's anything else and I'm not expecting anything back. She's been an unbelievable player.' Hampton has steadily risen up the ranks for both club and country since joining Chelsea from Aston Villa in 2023. And ahead of England's Euros defence – which begins against France on July 5, she added: 'I think of it as just playing another game of football. 'There's not really much pressure that you can put on yourself. We're here as a big team. Mary Earps has today announced her decision to retire from international football with immediate effect. The decision marks the end of a memorable eight-year international career. ❤️ 🏴 — Lionesses (@Lionesses) May 27, 2025 'You'll get through the games as a big team, whether that was me starting or me on the sidelines supporting – you knew what your role was going to be for the whole of the summer. 'Just getting that bit of clarity already helps you prepare for whatever your role is. My role is different this time around compared to the last tournaments, but it's not going to change my mindset. 'I'm there to enjoy myself, do the nation proud with all the girls and get memories. I remember all the memories from the last World Cup and Euros and I cherish every single one of them, I just want to keep repeating that.'


BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
Birmingham appoint Jutkiewicz as attack scout
Former Birmingham City striker Lukas Jutkiewicz will help the Championship club recruit new attacking talent after being appointed as a lead positional 36-year-old retired at the end of last season after helping Blues storm to the League One title and seal an immediate return to the second tier following relegation in spent nine years with Blues, making 358 appearances and scoring 69 club say his new "hybrid" role will have "an emphasis on the use of analytical tools to help identify potential targets".Jutkiewicz will attend matches and use video analysis and data to "create holistic evaluations of potential player acquisitions".His remit will cover building shortlists of possible domestic and international transfer targets and ensure the club's profiling model "remains consistent". "Now that my playing career has come to a close, I'm excited to begin a new chapter," Jutkiewicz said., external"I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience I've gained over my 20-year playing career in a different capacity, and I will bring the same commitment and passion to this new role as I did on the pitch."Birmingham director of football Craig Gardner said part of the appeal of appointing Jutkiewicz was he "knows the DNA of the club" and is sure he "will form a key role in enhancing our attacking player acquisition".Gardner added: "It will be a great environment for Lukas to both add significant value based on his experiences and learn from an outstanding team."