Marking Dwight McNeil is a task that has proved beyond some of the Premier League’s more accomplished right-backs.
Either Kyle Walker or Joao Cancelo will be charged with halting one of the game’s most dynamic young wingers when Burnley visit the Etihad Stadium next Monday. The Manchester City pair are at least qualified for a tough task, unlike McNeil’s recent training partner.
Surely a 43-year-old postman, albeit one who used to be a prolific non-league goalscorer, stood no chance? “He did well, to be fair,” said the Burnley attacker. A by-product of lockdown was that his father, Matty, took on the duty of impersonating a top-flight defender in a field behind a school. “He is getting on a bit but his fitness levels are still there, bless him. I really appreciated him helping. Me and my dad would do loads of training drills that we used to do back in the day.”
McNeil still lives with his parents, which, given his lack of footballing commitments in the last three months, has had its issues for them. “I have been on my PS4 with all my mates,” he said. “About 3 o’clock in the morning, they were coming in, saying: ‘Can you keep the noise down? I have got work in the morning’. I start laughing.”
McNeil's prowess at Fifa has provided his only competitive football since starring in Burnley's draw with Tottenham on 7 March. He was the Clarets' representative in the Premier League eSports Invitational, reaching the semi-finals before meeting Wolves' Diogo Jota. "I didn't mind going out to the winner," he said.
It is the closest Burnley have come to defeat since January. Sean Dyche has spent three months as the reigning manager of the month. The stoppage came at a bad time for them. “We know what was going on in the world but in a football sense we were on a great run,” added McNeil.
So was he, dating back 15 months in which he began 47 of Burnley’s 48 league games as they took 67 points. Before then, McNeil recalled: “We had 12 points from 19 games last season.”
Then a teenager with a solitary league start to his name became a catalyst. A break has allowed him to recognise as much. “Games come around quick so I had time to reflect on how well I had done.”
It has been a rapid rise. His first goal came against West Ham in December 2018. He has made debuts for first England Under-20s and then the Under-21s. He was due to line up against Turkey at Turf Moor in March. “Disappointing, I would have enjoyed playing in front of my home fans for my country,” he said.
Yet, 2020 has contained highlights for a man who was released by the club he supported, Manchester United. Burnley registered their first win at Old Trafford for 57 years. "I will always remember that day especially growing up a United fan," he said. "I was talking about it with my dad. Jay Rod [Jay Rodriguez] scored and celebrated right in front of where we sat in the Stretford End."
McNeil grew up idolising Ryan Giggs. Another inspiration was also at Old Trafford. “Robin van Persie when he went to United, even though he was a striker,” he explained. “I mainly look at the left-footed players [like Arjen] Robben.” The greatest, for him, however is Lionel Messi.
Some of England’s finest now stand in his way. “It is everyone’s dream to get a call-up for the senior team of their country. I have trained with them a couple of times and I have really enjoyed it,” said McNeil.
His form merits recognition from Gareth Southgate. The problem is that Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho can all play on the left wing. Competition for places may be stiffest there. “A lot of great players,” McNeil said. “It is just one of those things.”
McNeil finds himself in a different select group. He has delivered the sixth most crosses in this season’s Premier League. Trent Alexander-Arnold tops the list, followed by Kevin de Bruyne. “It’s good to be in the company of those great players,” he said. “One of my main strengths is crossing.”
He was only six weeks old when the 20th century ended but accepts the description of an old-fashioned winger. “People have said that, [I am] more direct and go on the outside more than the inside but it also helps with our style of play and having two big men up front.” Brief as his career is, it already includes seven assists for Chris Wood’s goals. “I thoroughly enjoy setting him up,” McNeil added.
Dyche’s instructions are simple. “When I came in last year, he told me to just play how I normally play in the [Under] 23s, getting the ball, trying to make things happen with crosses into the box. This year he told me to keep it basic. Now nearly every day in training he tells me to smile. I am laidback and like having a laugh on the training ground. He calls me and Johann [Berg Gudmundsson] the smilers because we are the most relaxed in the group. I don’t like it when he tells me to smile…”
It speaks, though, to the bond at Burnley. “I missed everyone,” said McNeil. “In the future, looking back at it, I think you will realise even more how special the team we have got now is.” He feels a part of it, even though he is much the youngest. Precocity has its perils and he has no peers at Turf Moor.
“We are an experienced group,” he said. “I remember going into the dressing room last year. I was 18. Chaz [Charlie Taylor] was the second youngest and Chaz was 25. The age gap to me was massive but the lads made me feel really welcome straight away.”
That generation gap is reflected in conversations and the soundtrack. “All the lads are married or have got kids,” McNeil said. When he, Taylor, Kevin Long and Erik Pieters have their daily discussions about the Fifa computer game, they get comments from colleagues with other commitments. “They let me off because I am so young at 20, I am doing what a young man can do, but they are married so they have got to look after the kids,” McNeil added.
It is not the only area of conflict. “Some of the stuff they are playing in the changing room, I am saying: ‘What is this music?’ I have not heard this before,” McNeil said. “They are all thinking I haven’t got a clue about music and then when I have got my music on in the coach going to the game, Corky [Jack Cork] is saying: ‘What are you listening to?’ Their stuff is a bit different to the hip-hop and rap I listen to.”
His older teammates’ taste include “a couple of Oasis songs. I see where they are coming from, why they listen to it, they like listening to the lyrics and stuff.” Some of Burnley’s players, like some of McNeil’s opponents, are nearer his father’s age than his own. Perhaps, though, it is opponents who should turn to Matty McNeil for advice in dealing with Dwight.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%203-litre%20V6%20turbo%20(standard%20model%2C%20E-hybrid)%3B%204-litre%20V8%20biturbo%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20350hp%20(standard)%3B%20463hp%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20467hp%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20500Nm%20(standard)%3B%20650Nm%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20600Nm%20(S)%0D%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh368%2C500%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
- Margarines and spreads; cookies, biscuits, pastries, cakes, and cake mixes, breakfast cereals, cereal and energy bars
- Energy drinks, milk drinks, fruit yoghurts and fruit drinks, cocoa drinks, meat and chicken extracts and instant sauces
- Infant formulas and follow-on milks, health and slimming products such as powdered or fortified meal and dish substitutes
- Many ready-to-heat products including pre-prepared pies and pasta and pizza dishes, poultry and fish nuggets and sticks, sausages, burgers, hot dogs, and other reconstituted meat products, powdered and packaged instant soups, noodles and desserts
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Klopp at the Kop
Matches 68; Wins 35; Draws 19; Losses 14; Goals For 133; Goals Against 82
- Eighth place in Premier League in 2015/16
- Runners-up in Europa League in 2016
- Runners-up in League Cup in 2016
- Fourth place in Premier League in 2016/17
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 630bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh810,000
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Moving%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SMG%20Studio%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Team17%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20One%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
