Ex-Towie star Mark Wright offered trial with Manchester United after his Soccer Aid heroics
Sunday's Man of the Match to train with Jose Mourinho's new side for two weeks in July
WHEN MARK WRIGHT rocketed home the opener in the Old Trafford Soccer Aid clash on Sunday he took away more than the Man of the Match trophy.
I can reveal the former Towie star has been offered a two-week trial at Manchester United by new manager JOSE MOURINHO and had a “serious offer” from Sunderland boss SAM ALLARDYCE — who managed Mark’s England team in the charity match.
He always had promise as a player, being on the books of several London teams in his youth.
I’m told Mark will now join Jose and his new side at their Carrington training ground in the first two weeks of July.
Hopefully he’ll be a bit lonely — fingers crossed his potential team mates WAYNE ROONEY, MARCUS RASHFORD and CHRIS SMALLING will still be in France if England reach the later stages of Euro 2016.
Sam personally picked up the phone to call Mark’s football agent dad Big Mark to register his interest in what would be one of the summer’s more unusual Premier League signings.
A source said: “Mark has always fancied himself as a decent footballer.
“But he didn’t expect this amount of interest after Soccer Aid.
“Jose came up to him after the game and asked him if he was free to head up to United’s training ground to see how he gets on among some professionals.
“Mark is now making sure he can fit it into his schedule but he is very keen.
“Sam rang on Tuesday with a similar offer.”
On the night, footballer turned Sky Sports pundit CHRIS KAMARA semi-predicted that Mark would be a wanted man after his showing at the weekend.
He smacked home a free kick from 30 yards to notch England’s first in the game, which finished 3-2 for the home pro-celebrity side featuring LOUIS TOMLINSON, OLLY MURS and JACK WHITEHALL against the Rest of the World team including NIALL HORAN and MICHAEL SHEEN.
But Mark’s dreams of being the next top-flight footballer may be stifled by his TV career.
He’s off to America soon for six months with wife MICHELLE KEEGAN after his CBBC kids show The Dengineers was picked up by a US channel.
The source added: “Mark is taking it in his stride but has told friends that if something serious does come of it he would drop the TV work in a heartbeat.
“He may be 29, which is old in football terms, but he would love a couple of years playing for a living.”
You can’t blame a bloke for trying — and let’s face it, he’s no stranger to scoring.
Amy's tag team dates
AMY CHILDS had a birthday to remember this year – with two romances on the go.
The ex-Towie star, who turned 26 on Tuesday, went on dates with The Apprentice contestant JAMES HILL and jailbird ex BRADLEY WRIGHT.
While James went shopping for the day in Amy’s car, she went to lunch with Bradley at Sheesh, Chigwell, Essex, days after I revealed they had rekindled their relationship.
They were unable to go out for dinner as bad boy Brad has to wear an electronic tag as part of his sentence for handling stolen goods.
But Amy found a solution to fill her evening, as James returned to her house and took her out for a meal at The Bull in Brentwood.
Even Towie script writers would struggle to beat that.
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Liam is evil inspiration
LIAM GALLAGHER has been called some bad things in his career, though it has never quite made it to the murderous villain level.
But Game of Thrones star IWAN RHEON, who plays the sadistic villain Ramsay Bolton in the Sky Atlantic show, says he channels the former Oasis frontman when the cameras start rolling.
He said: “I have always tried to bring that Liam Gallagher swagger to Ramsay, so I guess he’s Oasis-y.”
And Game of Thrones followers may get to hear him do his best Manc singing voice yet – alongside his musical colleagues RALEIGH RITCHIE and CARICE VAN HOUTEN, who play Grey Worm and Melisandre.
Iwan said: “Raleigh’s got a career on the go, and Carice does music as well. I think we could make a Game of Thrones superband. I’m the lead.”
Judging by his character on the show, I wouldn’t argue with him.
Must-watch
WHAT? Safeword, ITV2, 10pm
WHY? It’s reality star wars as Towie’s LYDIA BRIGHT goes head-to-head with Geordie Shore lothario GAZ BEADLE when they have their social media accounts hijacked.
Soapbox
EMMERDALE viewers have seen Emma Barton spin a shocking web of lies in a bid to keep her son Pete in the village but during tonight’s hour-long episode her toxic deception is finally exposed.
Finn, Pete and Ross are, unsurprisingly, outraged to discover that Emma faked having motor neurone disease and she is shocked when none of them object to her leaving.
But is luck still on her side?
In EASTENDERS, Lauren and Abi Branning try to reach out to Max in the wake of his court hearing.
They write their dad a letter, sent to him via Stacey, to say they’re there for him if he wants to be a family again.
What a waste of ink. I’ll be surprised if Max decides to play ball.