The English Football League (EFL) season is kicking off, and it`s a perfect time to reflect on some players whose current whereabouts in the lower divisions might surprise you. With 72 teams across League One and League Two, it`s common to wonder where certain familiar faces have ended up.
Goalkeeper
Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City): After helping Luton Town reach the Premier League, Horvath has seen limited action at Cardiff City and has fallen out of favor with the USMNT. While there`s still a slim chance for him to rejoin the national team`s contention, he`d first need to re-establish himself at Championship level.
Defenders
Calum Chambers (Cardiff City): Formerly an Arsenal player, Chambers will feature in League One for Cardiff this season. Following his move from Aston Villa, he made 41 starts in the Championship before their relegation. He`s now expected to be a key figure in their push for promotion.
Teden Mengi (Luton Town): One of the youngest on this list, this Manchester United academy product`s presence in League One might be unexpected. Though big things were once predicted for him, at 23, a return to the Premier League will require significant effort and progress.
Lynden Gooch (Huddersfield Town): Another American player who has dropped down the leagues, Gooch has played various roles from winger to full-back. He is now in League One, solidifying this division`s reputation as the `remember this player?` hub of English football.
Midfielders
Ryan Ledson (Huddersfield Town): Once an Everton Academy hopeful and England youth international, Ledson appeared destined for a bright future. After becoming a regular in the Championship with Preston North End, he has moved to Huddersfield, but his stay in League One is anticipated to be brief.
Sam Clucas (Shrewsbury Town): A true football journeyman, Clucas has played for nine different clubs, including two stints in the Premier League. He was a vital deep-lying midfielder for Hull City and Swansea City, contributing six goals and two assists during his time in the top flight.
John Fleck (Chesterfield): Now in League Two, Fleck is an underrated former Premier League midfielder. His steady presence in Sheffield United`s midfield was instrumental in their top-half Premier League finish. He now brings his quality to Chesterfield.
Bradley Dack (Gillingham): Not long ago, Dack seemed on the verge of a Premier League move after an impressive 2018-19 Championship season with Blackburn Rovers (15 goals, 7 assists). However, injuries derailed his progress, and he now finds himself in League Two with Gillingham.
Forwards
David McGoldrick (Barnsley): Still active in his 22nd season, McGoldrick joins Barnsley in League One after scoring 17 goals in League Two with Notts County. A well-travelled forward, he shows no signs of slowing down.
Paul Mullin (Wigan Athletic): Despite Wrexham`s promotion to the Championship, their legendary striker Paul Mullin will be on loan at Wigan in League One. This loan provides Mullin an opportunity to prove himself at a level where he has previously faced challenges, before making long-term career decisions.
Sam Vokes (Gillingham FC): A familiar name to Championship fans, Vokes begins his 20th season in football. After a less impactful season with Wycombe, he aims to regain a starting role in League Two with Gillingham.
Angliya Birinchi va Ikkinchi Ligalarida Unutilgan Futbolchilar
Angliya Futbol Ligasi (EFL) mavsumi boshlanmoqda va bu quyi divizionlardagi ba`zi futbolchilarning hozirgi holati sizni hayratda qoldirishi mumkin bo`lgan holatlarni ko`rib chiqish uchun ajoyib vaqt. Birinchi va Ikkinchi Ligadagi 72 ta jamoa bilan, tanish yuzlar qayerga borib qolganini o`ylash odatiy holdir.
Darvozabonlar
Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City): Luton Townga Premer-Ligaga chiqishga yordam berganidan so`ng, Horvath Cardiff Cityda cheklangan o`yin amaliyotini o`tkazdi va AQSh milliy terma jamoasidagi o`rnini yo`qotdi. Uning terma jamoaga qaytishi uchun kichik imkoniyat bo`lsa-da, u avval Chempionship darajasida o`zini qayta tiklashi kerak bo`ladi.
Himoyachilar
Calum Chambers (Cardiff City): Avvalgi Arsenal futbolchisi Chambers bu mavsumda Cardiff uchun Birinchi Ligada o`ynaydi. Aston Villadan ko`chib o`tganidan so`ng, u quyi ligaga tushishdan oldin Chempionshipda 41 ta o`yin o`tkazgan. Endi u yuqori divizionga qaytish uchun asosiy shaxs bo`lishi kutilmoqda.
Teden Mengi (Luton Town): Bu ro`yxatdagi eng yosh futbolchilardan biri bo`lib, Manchester Yunayted akademiyasi tarbiyalanuvchisi Birinchi Ligada o`ynayotgani kutilmagan holat bo`lishi mumkin. Bir paytlar unga katta umidlar bog`langan edi, ammo 23 yoshida Premer-Ligaga qaytish katta sa`y-harakat va o`sishni talab qiladi.
Lynden Gooch (Huddersfield Town): Ligalarda pastga tushib ketgan yana bir amerikalik futbolchi, Gooch vingerdan qanot himoyachisigacha turli rollarda o`ynagan. U hozir Birinchi Ligada bo`lib, bu divizionning Angliya futbolidagi `bu futbolchini eslaysizmi?` markazi sifatidagi obro`sini mustahkamlamoqda.
Yarim Himoyachilar
Ryan Ledson (Huddersfield Town): Bir paytlar Everton akademiyasi umidi va Angliya yoshlar terma jamoasi futbolchisi bo`lgan Ledsonning kelajagi porloq ko`ringan edi. Preston North End bilan Chempionshipda muntazam o`yinchi bo`lganidan so`ng, u Huddersfieldga ko`chib o`tdi, ammo uning Birinchi Ligadagi qolishi qisqa muddatli bo`lishi kutilmoqda.
Sam Clucas (Shrewsbury Town): Haqiqiy futbol sayohatchisi, Clucas to`qqiz xil klubda, shu jumladan Premer-Ligada ikki marta o`ynagan. U Hull City va Swansea City uchun muhim yarim himoyachi bo`lib, yuqori diviziondagi faoliyati davomida oltita gol va ikkita golli uzatma bilan hissa qo`shgan.
John Fleck (Chesterfield): Hozir Ikkinchi Ligada bo`lgan Fleck, avvalgi Premer-Liga yarim himoyachilaridan biri bo`lib, ko`pchilik tomonidan yetarlicha qadrlanmaydi. Uning Sheffield Yunayted yarim himoyasidagi barqaror o`rni jamoaning Premer-Ligada yuqori o`rinni egallashida muhim rol o`ynagan. Endi u o`z mahoratini Chesterfieldga olib kelmoqda.
Bradley Dack (Gillingham): Yaqinda Dack Blackburn Rovers bilan 2018-19 Chempionship mavsumida (15 gol, 7 golli uzatma) ajoyib o`yin ko`rsatib, Premer-Ligaga o`tish arafasida edi. Biroq, jarohatlar uning rivojlanishiga to`sqinlik qildi va u hozir o`zini Gillingham bilan Ikkinchi Ligada topdi.
Hujumchilar
David McGoldrick (Barnsley): Faoliyatining 22-mavsumida ham faol bo`lgan McGoldrick, Notts County bilan Ikkinchi Ligada 17 ta gol urganidan so`ng Barnsleyga Birinchi Ligaga o`tdi. Ko`plab jamoalarda o`ynagan bu hujumchi sekinlashish belgisini ko`rsatmayapti.
Paul Mullin (Wigan Athletic): Wrexham Chempionshipga ko`tarilganiga qaramay, ularning afsonaviy hujumchisi Pol Mullin Birinchi Ligadagi Wigan jamoasiga ijaraga beriladi. Bu ijara Mullinga ilgari qiyinchiliklarga duch kelgan darajada o`zini ko`rsatish imkoniyatini beradi, shundan so`ng u uzoq muddatli martaba qarorlarini qabul qiladi.
Sam Vokes (Gillingham FC): Chempionship muxlislariga tanish bo`lgan Vokes futbol faoliyatidagi 20-mavsumini boshlamoqda. O`tgan mavsumda Wycombe bilan unchalik samarali bo`lmaganidan so`ng, u Gillingham bilan Ikkinchi Ligada asosiy tarkibdagi o`rnini qaytarishni maqsad qilgan.
