The second coming of Carl McHugh

Capital One Cup Final: Bradford v Swansea City

When Donegal’s latest football hero, Carl McHugh, steps out with his Bradford City team-mates at Wembley for the Capital One League Cup final against Swansea City tomorrow, he’ll have more than just another act of glorious giantkilling on his mind. For this greatest day in his still fledgling career already represents a kind of second coming for the 20-year-old defender, another chance to make a mark which, less than 12 months ago, appeared highly unlikely.

Last summer, McHugh, a native of Lettermacaward, Co Donegal, was at a crossroads in life. Having just been released from the Reading academy, he was out of luck and running out of options.