World Cup briefing: Danny Welbeck was inspired by Mike Tyson’s autobiography
England striker turned to reading during his long spell out through injury
England and Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck has revealed that he spent hours at home reading books when he was out injured.
The former Manchester United forward missed Euro 2016 through injury but was named in Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad for the World Cup in Russia.
During the eight months he spent on the sidelines after surgery on his right knee, the 27-year-old hit the books - and there was one in particular he enjoyed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
He told The Sun: “I had so much time on my hands. Straight after surgery, I couldn’t put weight on my leg for two months so I was just sitting around reading. I went two months not even really leaving my house and I read more books than I did when I was in school.
“I liked the Mike Tyson one - he’s a fighter, he’s a mad man. You fight for competition in sports and you see in different athletes different mentalities and you take bits from each one - although I’m not just a fighter, I like to give love as well.
“I also liked Tim Grover’s Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable. That helped me through that period because it talks about being injured as a sportsman and making your way back into the game.”
Kagawa and Yoshida in Japan’s World Cup squad
Japan coach Akira Nishino has confirmed his 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup, talkSPORT reports.
Former Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa, who plays for Borussia Dortmund, is included along with Southampton defender Maya Yoshida and Leicester striker Shinji Okazaki.
In Russia, Japan are in group H with Senegal, Colombia, and Poland.
Japan’s 23-man World Cup squad:
- Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima, Masaaki Higashiguchi, Kosuke Nakamura
- Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Hiroki Sakai, Gotoku Sakai, Gen Shoji, Wataru Endo, Naomichi Ueda
- Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe, Keisuke Honda, Takashi Inui, Shinji Kagawa, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Genki Haraguchi, Takashi Usami, Gaku Shibasaki, Ryota Oshima
- Forwards: Shinji Okazaki, Yuya Osako, Yoshinori Muto
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Bhutan hopes tourists will put a smile back on its face
Under The Radar The 'kingdom of happiness' is facing economic problems and unprecedented emigration
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
The wit and wisdom of Sven-Göran Eriksson
In Depth The first foreign coach to manage England on football, life and death
By The Week Staff Published
-
Can England's Euros team hold their nerve?
Today's Big Question Three Lions' 'lopsided' opening win over Serbia raises more questions than it answers
By The Week UK Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
Lionesses will have regrets but their legacy can be ‘incredible’
feature England stars return home after heartbreaking Women’s World Cup final loss to Spain
By Mike Starling Published
-
How English women’s football could become a billion pound industry
feature Building on the success of the Lionesses won’t be easy but it is eminently possible
By The Week Staff Published
-
Lionesses dig deep after Lauren James’s ‘Beckham-esque’ red card
feature England reach the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals after a 4-2 win on penalties against Nigeria
By Mike Starling Published
-
Curse of the Lionesses: what’s causing spate of England women’s football injuries?
Under the Radar Several key players are out of the World Cup, raising concerns about hectic schedules, sub-par pitches and sexism
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
‘Captain fantastic’: Harry Kane’s most memorable England goals
feature Kane has overtaken Wayne Rooney as the Three Lions’s all-time leading goalscorer
By Mike Starling Published