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Erling Haaland is making ready to faucet in his ninth aim of the season when Craig Dawson, stretching each muscle, reaches the ball together with his huge toe and diverts it behind.As they put together for the nook, Haaland presents Dawson his hand and claps his marker on the shoulder in a present of admiration.The clip has been considered 74,000 occasions on YouTube: future Ballon d’Or thwarted by reigning Ballon d’Awson — because the Wolves centre again was nicknamed at West Ham. Wolves will likely be underdogs once they tackle Arsenal on the Emirates on Saturday however Dawson’s work in opposition to Haaland exhibits he can deal with the very best. When the pair crossed swords at Molineux on September 30, Haaland had 14 touches and a single shot — his lowest tallies in both class this season. Wolves gained 2-1.Not unhealthy for a participant who reached the highest the exhausting method. Though a gifted teenager, Dawson didn’t make the grade instantly. Earlier than hometown membership Rochdale signed him, he was incomes £50 per week taking part in for Radcliffe Borough within the Northern Premier League — whereas additionally amassing glasses three nights per week at a neighborhood pub. Craig Dawson was given the affectionate nickname ‘Ballon d’Awson’ whereas at West Ham The English centre again was given the unenviable job of marking Erling Haaland earlier this season Dawson made it to the highest the exhausting method – taking part in in all 4 divisions and recording virtually 500 senior appearances
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Now 33 and in his fifteenth season, Dawson has performed in all 4 divisions and has recorded practically 500 senior appearances.Sitting in a gathering room at his membership’s coaching base, conducting his first newspaper interview since becoming a member of Wolves practically a yr in the past, Dawson recollects the second he was advised by head coach Gary O’Neil he can be marking Haaland. ‘OK, proper, cheers boss!’ he says with a smile. ‘However we had a really detailed recreation plan and we caught to it.‘Soccer is on the TV a lot each teenager might in all probability inform me the ins and outs of Haaland, his actions, what he does in sure conditions and the way he scores his objectives. However then going out and doing it’s a bit completely different.‘The handshake will not be one thing that occurs too typically between opponents throughout video games and it was a pleasant second.’Dawson has stated in earlier interviews that he’s not considered a ‘fancy’ footballer. Requested to elaborate, he says he’s considered as ‘an old style centre half. Not “Dawsinho!” No frills and I feel typically individuals like frills.’Earlier than this interview, Mail Sport despatched Dawson a listing of forwards he had confronted throughout 12 years as a Premier League participant. Sergio Aguero, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah have been among the many names on a formidable roll name.‘There are such a lot of world-class gamers on there — every distinctive,’ says Dawson. ‘The consistency, the motion, tempo, expertise, understanding, capability to attain objectives.‘Aguero was at all times one. His motion… you didn’t know the place he was. You’d look and he’d be gone. Then Olivier Giroud… everybody says, “He’s only a hyperlink man” however technically he’s superb, so sturdy, highly effective within the air. He’s nonetheless performing on the prime degree on the age of 37. In in the present day’s Premier League, you concentrate on Haaland and Salah.’ The 33-year-old has confronted a few of the biggest strikers the Premier League has ever seen The Wolves defender was stuffed with reward for the motion of Manchester Metropolis’s file aim scorer Sergio Aguero Dawson has made the second-most blocks within the Premier League this season – behind solely Everton’s James TarkowskiDawson was a promising cricketer in his youth, taking part in alongside New Zealand’s Lou Vincent and Ryan Hinds of West Indies at Rochdale CC within the Central Lancashire League. He additionally had trials for Lancashire.Right here he considers every reply fastidiously, as if pacing an innings on a inexperienced early-season pitch. He has a deadpan sense of humour and refreshing lack of brashness. He hardly ever makes use of social media.You sense he’s broadly the identical bloke whose response to rejection by Manchester Metropolis, Bolton, Bury and — initially — Rochdale was merely to work tougher, ‘working the streets of Rochdale within the rain’ as he chased his dream. After early appearances for Rochdale, he would typically head straight for the native cricket membership to observe his brother in motion.Dawson’s previous and current collide on Saturday, when he faces shut pal and former team-mate Declan Rice. The pair struck up a superb rapport throughout two years collectively at West Ham and stay in common contact.Although he didn’t coin the ‘Ballon d’Awson’ nickname, Rice picked it up and ran with it, serving to the label achieve notoriety. ‘He undoubtedly took pleasure in winding me up for the Ballon d’Awson factor,’ says Dawson. ‘I feel it was a fan who got here up with it after which immediately it was in all places.’Rice has settled immediately after becoming a member of Arsenal for £105million final summer time and is a key member of the England squad who’re one of many favourites for Euro 2024.Dawson believes Rice belongs within the prime bracket. ‘Enjoying and coaching with him you’ll be able to see his full potential, notably as he performed so many video games in entrance of me. I can solely see him getting stronger and stronger. What actually stands out is his presence on the pitch, how he can management a recreation, how he can run previous gamers and his high quality on the ball is superb.‘Dec is a good one who is doing nicely for membership and nation and may solely enhance at Arsenal. It is going to be good to see him however it is going to be a extremely powerful recreation.’Dawson was simply as well-liked with Hammers supporters as together with his former colleagues, and lots of have been dissatisfied when he left to be nearer to his household. He was an integral a part of the workforce who reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, together with his show within the quarter-final win over Sevilla catching the attention of supervisor Julen Lopetegui.When the Spaniard took over at Wolves final November, he knew precisely who he wished to anchor his defence, and Dawson made the £3.3m change in January, scoring on his debut in opposition to Liverpool.West Ham had been reluctant to conform to the switch. Dawson says: ‘I needed to transfer north once more for private causes. I cherished West Ham. It was a household and we have been a close-knit workforce. A part of me was unhappy to not have performed within the Convention League last however I used to be delighted they gained.’ A promising cricketer in his youth, Dawson performed alongside New Zealand worldwide Lou Vincent (pictured) at Rochdale CC He struck up a robust friendship with Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice – who he faces on Saturday – whereas at West Ham Julen Loptegeui introduced in Dawson on the earliest alternative after taking on Wolves in November 2022Dawson additionally reveals he has but to obtain a Europa Convention League winner’s medal. He was at Wolves when the Hammers beat Fiorentina in Prague however made 4 appearances within the early phases and scored within the 3-2 win at Danish membership Silkeborg final September.But focus is now on Wolves, who’re having a commendable season underneath O’Neil — not helped by a number of controversial VAR selections which their supervisor believes have value them seven factors. ‘It’s clear a few of the VAR selections have gone in opposition to us, we simply don’t appear to be getting a lot luck with them,’ Dawson says. ‘It’s one thing I’m certain will likely be seemed into.‘We’re constructing a bunch of people who find themselves collectively, absolutely targeted and in it for one another. You may see on the pitch these connections. Once I say “group”, it needs to be the entire membership.‘What we’ve got right here could be very thrilling however we’ve got to maintain going. It’s as much as the gamers to convey all of it collectively. You may see defenders and midfielders celebrating tackles and blocks once they put their our bodies on the road. That’s the environment and drive we’ve created.’ IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! It is All Kicking Off is an thrilling new podcast from Mail Sport that guarantees a special tackle Premier League soccer.It’s out there on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.
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