JAMES MCATEE says Pep Guardiola told him to “go have fun” after snubbing the Club World Cup for the Under-21 European Championship.

The Manchester City midfielder, 22, will lead out England in their Euro opener against Czechia tomorrow after opting for country over club.

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James McAtee will captain England U21s after snubbing the Club World Cup[/caption]

McAtee says the decision on whether to jet to America with City or head to Slovakia for international duty was entirely down to him.

And the star, who has been named captain by Young Lions head coach Lee Carsley, has revealed how his club boss Guardiola reacted to the news.

McAtee said: “I don’t know if he knew I was going to be captain at all, but yeah, he was just saying ‘go and enjoy yourself and go and have fun and try and win the tournament’.

“We just had a discussion and it was as easy as that. A quick discussion and then I was on my way here.

“I didn’t know if it was going to happen, but I’m happy to be here, happy to be with the lads and looking forward to the tournament.”

McAtee, who has been linked with moves to Man Utd, Lyon, Everton and Leeds, continued: “It was a chance for me to go and play. 

“I’ve been happy with my minutes that I’ve got this year, but I think here I can play more of a part than I would have at the Club World Cup.

“It’s more of an experience and this is my first international tournament, so it’ll be good to get out there.”

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McAtee, who says his favoured position is No10, failed to keep the news quiet that he would be wearing the armband at the Euros 

He said: “Lee pulled me to the side, I think it was last week during training, and told me.

“I was obviously over the moon, he told me to keep it quiet for a bit, but I told my mum and dad straight away.  It’s a great honour and I can’t thank Lee enough for it.

“I’d definitely remember it forever if we go and win it. 

“There’s obviously special players here, look at our team. We’ve got a great squad. We’re all looking forward to it and we believe we can win it.”

Carsley’s England, with Cole Palmer in the squad, were crowned European champions two years ago.

And McAtee admits his best pal’s rise to stardom since with Chelsea and England is motivating him to use this tournament as a springboard.

He added: “Cole’s obviously been my team-mate since I’ve been 11 [at City], so I wouldn’t say inspiration, but obviously what he’s done with Chelsea is amazing. 

“This might have kick-started him. Hopefully it’ll be the same for me as well.”

England kick-off their Euro campaign against Czechia and then three days later will face Slovenia before their final group-stage match against Germany on Wednesday 18 June.

All of the Young Lions’ matches will be broadcast on Channel 4.

WITH its grand spires and medieval tower offering magnificent views over the city, this iconic 15th-century cathedral looks like countless other tourist magnets across the country.

Now, however, only the bravest day-trippers would venture there, with locals claiming it’s besieged by drug addicts who congregate on the benches and nearby steps from dusk till dawn.

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Antisocial behaviour regularly takes place on the benches opposite the city’s Cathedral, say locals[/caption]

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Residents told The Sun they feel unsafe in parts of the city[/caption]

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Phone boxes designed for emergency 999 calls are being used by drug users to make deals, locals claim[/caption]

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Many residents now don’t venture into the city centre[/caption]

The imposing Wakefield Cathedral, West Yorkshire, has become a no-go area for local residents, who have been driven away by intimidating behaviour.

Mothers have to cover their children’s ears because of foul language from the groups who openly drink booze and blast loud music, while locals are terrified by their aggressive begging.

Drug users even order their deals via a public BT street hub, designed to allow the public to make emergency 999 calls, in earshot of shoppers.

One market stall holder, who did not wish to be named, said: “They are a scourge on this beautiful city.

“They turn up in the morning, when they are quite loud, then come back at midday. After taking their drugs, they have a bit of a siesta – a lull when they are out of it.

“Then they are back to being a proper nuisance around teatime.

“They use the BT hub to order their deals – you can hear them asking for £50 bags or £30 deals.

“The police seem to do nothing, even though they are always nicking from Boots, Marks and Spencer and the rest of the shops opposite the Cathedral.”

Shopper Reg Milner, 75, said: “It’s a terrible thing to see in Wakefield. It should not be tolerated.

“I come to the city twice a week, and I think it is disgusting what they are doing.

“There are kids going past and they have to hear and see what they shouldn’t.”

Security guard Tanvir Hasan, 25, works at Boots, just across the street from the Cathedral, where most of the antisocial behaviour takes place.

“We have a huge problem with them – they gather outside at the back of the shop in our loading bay,” he said.

“I’m watching them every day.”

It comes after security was amped up at the city’s main bus station last week to quell anti-social behaviour.

It needs sorting – it puts you right off shopping here

Sarah MurrayMum-of-two

Spates of vandalism together with locals reporting to have felt unsafe at the station sparked an intervention from Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell Simon Lightwood.

It is hoped that a heavier presence of cops and station security staff will decrease levels of criminality at the station.

Mr Lightwood added that disabled passengers had reportedly been unable to use the station toilets because of the severe vandalism.

“Everybody should feel safe using Wakefield Bus Station,” he said.

“It’s the gateway for people to visit our city centre, spend money in our local businesses and visit local attractions.”

“That includes making sure our public transport networks and transport hubs are safe for everyone to use.”

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Children are often in earshot of the rowdy behaviour, parents said[/caption]

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Those taking drugs reportedly have a ‘siesta’ mid-afternoon[/caption]

Steve Allen

Shopper Reg Milner, 75, said It’s a terrible thing to see in Wakefield and that It should not be tolerated[/caption]

Meanwhile, mum-of-two Sarah Murray, 34, actively avoids coming into Wakefield because of the groups.

“They make you feel very uncomfortable and they are quite scary,” she said.

“It needs sorting – it puts you right off shopping here.

“They are not bothered what they say or what they do, or how they make you feel.

“This is a city centre and it should feel like a safe place.”

They come in and blatantly help themselves to what they want

Janey Murraybakery worker

Janet Murray, 64, who works in Poundbakery across from the Cathedral, has to deal with what she calls “horrendous” shoplifting.

“They are over there taking drugs every day, and over here stealing our goods every day. You can’t touch them,” she said.

“They come in and blatantly help themselves to what they want, saying, ‘I’m hungry’. That is all you get out of them, and then they walk out without paying.

“You get a gob-full of abuse from them, but no money.

“There’s no point calling the police, they’re not going to do anything, not for a couple of packs of sandwiches.

“But, when they are stealing every day, all week, it adds up. And I’m working for my money.”

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Wakefield Cathedral has the tallest spire in Yorkshire[/caption]

A BUDGET buy from Aldi can help to brighten up your garden on summer nights.

This affordable item is said to add a “magical” touch to your space.

Facebook

Aldi shoppers can pick up a budget decor buy that brightens up gardens on summer nights[/caption]

You can level up your garden for the long summer nights ahead with a solar-powered tree.

And thanks to Aldi, this outdoor addition won’t even cost you that much.

Shoppers can pick up the Garden Bright Solar Trees for just £19.99 from the Specialbuy section.

The savvy deal was shared on the Facebook page Dansway Gifts and Bargains UK.

A bargain hunter posted a photo of the items in the shop’s middle aisle.

They detailed the two options available to customers, the “beautiful Garden Bright Solar Magnolia and Cherry Blossom Trees”.

The trees are fitted with a “dusk sensor” allowing them to glow brightly once the sun goes down.

They measure just under four foot and features 100 cool white lights.

Another impressed shopper shared what her tree looked like after dark.

The Aldi customer summed up the buy as “looking beautiful in the evening”.

Other Facebook users shared their thoughts on the solar light trees in the comments section.

“These are lovely,” wrote one commenter, while another person agreed, asking: “How beautiful are these?”

A third Facebook user shared her plans to buy the tree as a present for her friend.

And a Home Bargains buy will brighten up your space while making it look like something out of Bridgerton.

Meanwhile, Amazon has a £14 privacy buy that is described as “perfect” for summer.

Another privacy fence is also available from Amazon, for just £5.

B&Q has an affordable privacy fence currently on sale, and you can put it up yourself.

And a £10 B&M product adds inches to your fence, elevating your garden’s privacy.

You can also add a stylish touch to your privacy fence with another B&M buy.

And its not just fences that can help give you privacy in your garden, one B&M item can help shield you from nosy neighbours and the sun.

Meanwhile, another Home Bargains buy is said to add a touch of glamour to your garden.

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The solar tree is available in a magnolia or cherry blossom style, both of which are available for £19.99[/caption]

QUESTIONS are still being asked more than two decades after a mum mysteriously vanished without a trace.

Sex worker Kellie Pratt, from Norwich, went missing in June 2000 when she was 28 years old after moving to the Norfolk city from Newcastle to be closer to her mum.

NCJMedia

Kellie Pratt mysteriously vanished in 2000[/caption]

NCJMedia

She was last seen outside The Rose pub[/caption]

The mum of two sons was last seen outside The Rose pub in Queens Road.

A quarter of a century on, Norfolk Constabulary’s cold case manager Andy Guy is convinced that some Brits roaming the streets have answers to his questions.

He told the Chronicle: “It has been 25 years now since Kellie went missing from the streets of Norwich and this very much remains an open and active case.

“Time has passed, but we continue to work on this case and follow up lines of inquiry to find who is responsible and to bring them to justice.

“I believe the answer to her disappearance lies within the people she knew in Norwich, and it is those people I would ask to examine their consciences and to come forward and speak to us.

“There are rumours circulating about what happened to Kellie, but in order to resolve this investigation those with first-hand information would need to do the right thing.

“After 25 years, people’s circumstances will have changed and I hope this milestone will be enough to encourage individuals with relevant information to have the courage to come forward.”

Kellie was called on her Nokia 6100 at 11.30pm – within about 10 minutes of being seen outside the pub – and said she was with “a punter”.

Cops tracked down and questioned the individual who made the final call to Kellie but the person she was with that night remains a mystery.

“The person she was with that night may or may not be responsible but if he wasn’t we would still want to hear from them,” Andy revealed.

Interestingly, on March 29, 2002, another sex worker, 22-year-old Michelle Bettles, disappeared from the Norwich red light district, prompting fears there could be a serial killer at large in the city.

Michelle’s body was found 48 hours later but her killer has never been caught.

And in 2006, a string of three murders of women working in the city’s red light district shook the nation.

It was later revealed that a ripper-style murderer was thought to be targeting prostitutes in the Ipswich area, just 40 miles from the pub where Kellie was last seen.

Cops in Norfolk teamed up with Suffolk Constabulary as the force probed the death of Gemma Adams, 25, and the disappearance of her missing friend Tania Nichol, 19.

Steve Wright, dubbed the Suffolk Strangler, was eventually jailed for the murders of five women, including Paula Clennell, who was originally from Northumberland, but no links with Kellie were found.

In 2005, five years after Kellie’s disappeared, officers said they weren’t holding out hope that the missing person would be found.

A spokesman said: “Despite extensive enquiries, it is still unclear what happened to Kellie, although police and her family have for some time feared the worst.

“Work has been ongoing since Kellie disappeared five years ago.

“Last month, officers carried out inquiries into whether advances in phone technology could offer any new opportunities for investigation but unfortunately, it was established that this was not the case.”

NCJMedia

Cops continue to try and find answers a quarter of a century after she disappeared[/caption]

North News and Pictures

The most successful Legend Of Zelda game of all time is remastered for the Nintendo Switch 2 and gains a significant performance boost.

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Wait... what?!

The UK and EU have reached a agreement over the future of Gibraltar, solving what the government described as the ‘last major unresolved issue from Brexit’.

People travelling between the tiny British territory – located on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula – and neighbouring Spain will not face checks under the deal.

It was called a ‘historic agreement’ by Gibraltarian chief minister Fabian Picardo, while British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a ‘practical solution’ had been secured.

The Foreign Office has ‘ensured Gibraltar’s interests – as part of the UK family – are at the heart of this agreement’, Lammy added.

Half the people who work in the territory, famous for its monumental rock and Barbary apes, cross the border between Spain and Gibraltar every day.

Picardo said, with the deal reached, it is now ‘time to finalise the Treaty’.

The agreement agreed by the UK and EU following Brexit left the issue of the territory to be solved another day.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the deal, writing on X: ‘It safeguards the integrity of Schengen and the Single Market, while ensuring stability, legal certainty and prosperity for the region.’

The Foreign Office said passengers arriving at Gibraltar Airport will face border checks from both Gibraltarian and Spanish officials.

In a similar approach to French police operating at London St Pancras rail station, immigration and law and order will be tackled by Gibraltar while the integrity of the Schengen Area will be handled by Spain.

Lammy said: ‘Alongside the Government of Gibraltar, we have a reached an agreement which protects British sovereignty, supports Gibraltar’s economy and allows businesses to plan for the long-term once again.

‘I thank the Chief Minister and his Government for their tireless dedication throughout the negotiations.

‘The UK’s commitment to Gibraltar remains as solid as the Rock itself.’

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