News from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City old boy Paul Connor handed special task with Gareth Southgate’s England squad

Former Stoke City striker Paul Connor might be 45 now but he has just received his first call-up to the England senior squad.

Connor was a pretty popular if fringe player at Stoke at the turn of the century, scoring 10 times as he made a loan deal from Middlesbrough permanent when the club was in Division Two. He went on to score goals for clubs including Rochdale, Swansea, Cheltenham Town and Mansfield.

He dropped down to non-league with Gainsborough Trinity in 2012 and playing part-time gave him the chance to study podiatry at the New College Durham – and that’s eventually led him back to being involved in football at the highest level.

He has been called into Middlesbrough’s Rockcliffe training headquarters to work on the feet of players including Bukayo Saka, who will play an important role if England are to be successful at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.

“I do some work for Middlesbrough FC, where England have been staying (ahead of the friendly win over Bosnia in Newcastle on Monday),” Connor told GlouchestershireLive.

“The team doctors know each other, so that is how the opportunity came around for me. I am very proud and it was a great experience. The players and staff were all very friendly and welcoming.

“They are definitely the most expensive feet I’ve worked on! Hopefully it can help bring the trophy home.”