Days of miracle and wonder

Sensational breaking news on the home front: my seven-year-old daughter has suddenly discovered the beautiful game.

One week ago, it was all Barbies, Furby and Mallory Towers; now it’s all Match Attax, games in the back garden and, er, Liverpool. (Although a comeback by the Barbies can’t be ruled out; they haven’t gone away, you know).

The Match Attax collecting bug took hold in the schoolyard, was accelerated by a gift of a big bundle of ‘spares’ from a veteran of eight and has already reached the giddy stage where the Stoke City squad is almost complete. Not since Trap, I would imagine, hasanyone been so excited to see Glenn Whelan turn up.