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Aaron Connolly had ‘specific goal to be ready’ for return to Hull as Sunderland boss provides update after rehab hell

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Aaron Connolly had 'specific goal to be ready' for return to Hull as Sunderland boss provides update after rehab hell

REGIS LE BRIS says Aaron Connolly is desperate to face some of the demons of his past and make his debut against former club Hull City.

Sunderland head to the Tigers knowing a victory would ensure they end the day top of the Championship.

Aaron Connolly scored eight times for Hull last season before entering rehab

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Aaron Connolly scored eight times for Hull last season before entering rehabCredit: Getty
The Irish striker is now desperate to make his debut for Sunderland against the Tigers

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The Irish striker is now desperate to make his debut for Sunderland against the TigersCredit: Alamy

Irish forward Connolly, 24, revealed last week that he underwent treatment for alcohol addiction after he was released by Hull this summer.

The brave ace, who famously burst on the Premier League scene aged 19 with Brighton thanks to a brace against Tottenham, opened up about how drinking had impacted his life and career to coincide with World Mental Health Day.

Following his spell in rehab, Connolly was handed a chance to resurrect his career by Sunderland.

And after scoring a couple of goals for the Under-21s in midweek, Le Bris says he is desperate to be unleashed against the side he got eight goals for last term despite claiming that his “life was a mess” while he was on Humberside.

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The French coach said: “I think that it was a specific goal for him to be ready for this game.

“We haven’t rushed the project, it was perfect, and I don’t know if we will use him but he is available.”

He continued: “We knew before we knew we needed three or four weeks to assess his physical level.

“He was really fit at the beginning which was good news for us.

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“He needed to get to know his teammates and the team. We had two opportunities to play with the U21s and he did very well, he scored which is good for a striker.

“He needed time to connect with a structure, team and team-mates and now he’s ready.”

Chris Rigg talks about his journey to becoming a player for Sunderland

On the bravery of Connolly sharing his issues with the world, Le Bris said: “It is very interesting to share these ideas instead of hiding and pretending that it doesn’t exist.

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“The first thing is to recognise your mistakes and then the next is to avoid any repetition. 

“So it’s not a problem for us to talk about any problems a player has had in their career, whether it is a small detail on the pitch or a bigger one off it.

“I’m OK with that and it is a problem for the players in the dressing-room.”

And Le Bris says that he has not had to put a shoulder around the forward since he bared his soul.

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But he did stress that everyone at the club would be there for him if he needed them.

Le Bris added: “I don’t exactly know Aaron’s personality, it’s been three weeks now, but I think that he doesn’t need specific attention.

“He knows what is important for him and that it is important to succeed now and he’s very connected to that project.

“We’ll take care of him and I’m not sure he needs attention at the moment.”

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He will be vying with Wilson Isidor to start up front but Eliezer Mayenda is not expected to be available after injury until next weekend.

Dan Ballard is also likely to be back to face Oxford but summer signing Salis Abdul Samed – who is yet to play for the Black Cats – remains several weeks away from being available.

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Duncan Scott wins 200m freestyle at World Cup event in Shanghai

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Duncan Scott wins 200m freestyle at World Cup event in Shanghai

Great Britain’s Duncan Scott claimed victory in the men’s 200m freestyle on the third and final day of the short course World Cup event in Shanghai.

The 27-year-old put in a strong showing in the second half of the race to win in one minute 40.92 seconds, with Australia’s Edward Sommerville second in 1:42.14 and Danas Rapsys, of Lithuania, third in 1:42.35.

“It’s a really tough three days, [we’re] right at the end and it’s a good quality field. I’m just really happy to be able to win it,” said Scott.

“This is very tough. The heats are more challenging than you want and the finals are tough as well.”

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Leon Marchand added victory in the 400m individual medley to his win in the 200m individual medley a day earlier, before finishing fourth in the 200m breaststroke.

“I think I forgot how hard the 400 IM is,” said France’s Marchand, who won in 4:00.03. “I think I just went out a little too fast on the fly and was just tying up in the last 100.

“I started training a month ago so I’m trying to get new details and focus on my technique.”

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Victor Boniface rushed to hospital after car crash as Bayer Leverkusen star shares video of smashed vehicle

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Victor Boniface rushed to hospital after car crash as Bayer Leverkusen star shares video of smashed vehicle

VICTOR BONIFACE was involved in a terrifying car accident after Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga victory on Saturday.

The Nigeria international posted photos on his social media showing the wreckage from the collision.

Victor Boniface shared a video of his smashed up car

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Victor Boniface shared a video of his smashed up car
Another angle showed just how bad the damage was

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Another angle showed just how bad the damage was
Boniface was left with a nasty hand injury

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Boniface was left with a nasty hand injury
The star shared an update with his fans from hospital

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The star shared an update with his fans from hospital

Boniface, 23, appeared to be taken to hospital after the incident as he shared a selfie from a hospital bed.

Fortunately, the star appears to have avoided serious injury as he took to X to share an update with his followers.

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He simply wrote: “God is the greatest”.

Boniface didn’t escape completely unscathed, however.

The former Union SG striker posted a video of his bloodied hand which appeared to have been badly cut during the accident.

The same video showed just how bad the damage was to his car with the front bonnet completely smashed in.

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Boniface had played for Leverkusen just hours before the incident as Xabi Alonso‘s side beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1.

The bagsman even found the back of the net, scoring the winner in the 71st minute.

Boniface’s crash comes just a matter of days after being locked in an abandoned airport with the Nigerian national team for 18 HOURS.

Nigerian players and staff were left without food, water or access to phone connections at the abandoned airport which had its gates locked.

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The unbelievable moment happened prior to the Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations clash with Libya.

The match was ultimately postponed following the whole ordeal.

Boniface scored for Leverkusen just hours before the crash

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Boniface scored for Leverkusen just hours before the crashCredit: AP
Boniface was one of the Nigeria stars to be stuck in an abandoned airport during the international break

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Boniface was one of the Nigeria stars to be stuck in an abandoned airport during the international breakCredit: X @WTroostEkong

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Juan Soto LAUNCHES a GO-AHEAD, three-run home run in the 10th inning to help Yankees defeat Guardians, 5-2

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Juan Soto LAUNCHES a GO-AHEAD, three-run home run in the 10th inning to help Yankees defeat Guardians, 5-2




Juan Soto launched a go-ahead, three-run home run in the 10th inning to help the New York Yankees defeat the Cleveland Guardians, 5-2.



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Warren Gatland: Coach not making squad decisions to protect himself

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Warren Gatland: Coach not making squad decisions to protect himself

Wales will be without several key players for the autumn, with Cardiff pair Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau both expected to miss all three Tests.

Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins and Dragons hooker Elliot Dee also miss out through injury, while Dragons number eight Aaron Wainwright is in a race to be fit after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies is unavailable after announcing his international retirement.

“Firstly, we’re looking for good men, men who want to be part of a team, who are prepared to go to the well and dig deep,” said Gatland.

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“A lot of players, particularly the younger ones, don’t always know the limits of what they can do, and how hard and far they can push themselves at the highest level.

“For a number of them they realise pretty quickly that the step up to international rugby is massive in terms of pace, physicality and intensity. I’ve always said as a coach that you can’t coach ‘experience’ – it has to be learned just by being out there and playing.”

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MMA

UFC Vegas 99 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Elkins leada card

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UFC Vegas 99 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Elkins leada card

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $155,500.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC Fight Night 245 took place at the UFC Apex. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC Fight Night 245 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

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Anthony Hernandez: $6,000
def. Michel Pereira: $11,000

Rob Font: $16,000
def. Kyler Phillips: $6,000

Charles Johnson: $6,000
def. Su Mudaerji: $6,000

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Cameron Smotherman: $4,000
def. Jake Hadley: $6,000

Darren Elkins: $21,000
def. Daniel Pineda: $11,000

Asu Almabayev: $4,500
def. Matheus Nicolau: $11,000

Jean Matsumoto: $4,000
def. Brad Katona: $6,000

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Joselyne Edwards: $6,000
def. Tamires Vidal: $4,500

Elise Reed: $6,000
def. Jessica Penne: $4,000

Melissa Martinez: $4,000
def. Alice Ardelean: $4,000

Austen Lane: $4,500
def. Robelis Despaigne: $4,000

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Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2451 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $6,644,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $29,381,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

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Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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