“Folks joke that I solely did it as a result of he did not do his homework,” says former Premier League referee Jon Moss in regards to the time he despatched off James Milner.

Twenty-four years after making his debut, Milner, 40, equalled the report for many Premier League appearances when he got here on as an early substitute for Brighton at Aston Villa on Wednesday.

A stellar profession spanning greater than 20 years, six top-flight golf equipment, 653 Premier League appearances, 61 England caps, three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League triumph has additionally delivered some sudden moments.

Just like the time Milner – generally known as ‘Millie’, exterior by these near him – was despatched off by Moss, his former trainer at Westbrook Lane Major Faculty in Horsforth, Leeds, whereas taking part in for Liverpool in opposition to Crystal Palace in 2019.

“He mentioned I could not wait to get my card out,” laughs Moss about dismissing his former pupil after switching careers.

“Folks say I am the one trainer to ship off one among his pupils in a Premier League sport. We will each snigger about it now.”

Milner is about to go stage with Gareth Barry, who performed 653 occasions, on the high of the all-time Premier League look record some 8,491 days after making his debut for hometown membership Leeds United quickly after leaving faculty in 2002.

“I feel that can be a particular factor for him however he’s targeted on high of that on the ambitions from the membership as nicely. He needs to be all the time profitable like he was his entire life,” mentioned Brighton supervisor Fabian Hurzeler.

“He’s a driver of this successful mentality and I feel it is crucial to have these sort of gamers within the squad.

“They know tips on how to win, they know what it must win, how that you must put together a sport, the way you react in dangerous phases like on dangerous runs we’ve in the meanwhile.”

Alan Shearer, who performed with Milner at Newcastle, describes him as a mannequin skilled and a “supervisor’s dream”.

“You’ll do nicely when you had him in your squad since you knew precisely what you have been going to get,” provides former England captain Shearer.

That is the story a couple of younger lad from Leeds who developed to set requirements for onerous work, professionalism and longevity – and earn respect from followers all around the world.