James Weir (footballer)

James Michael Weir (born 4 August 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Pohronie in the Slovak Fortuna Liga. He joined the club as a free agent, after half-season with Bolton Wanderers.

James Weir
Personal information
Full name James Michael Weir[1]
Date of birth (1995-08-04) 4 August 1995
Place of birth Preston, England
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Pohronie
Number 14
Youth career
2005–2008 Preston North End
2008–2014 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Manchester United 1 (0)
2016–2019 Hull City 3 (0)
2017 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 4 (0)
2019–2020 Bolton Wanderers 8 (0)
2020– Pohronie 21 (5)
National team
England U16
2012 England U18 2 (0)
2012 England U19 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:20, 22 December 2020 (UTC)

Club career

Manchester United

Born in Preston, Lancashire, Weir began his career with local club Preston North End before joining the Manchester United academy in 2008.[2][3][4] While progressing at the club's academy, he represented England at U16 and U18 level.[4] At one point, Weir was captain of Manchester United's Academy and later the under-21 side.[4][5]

Weir made his UEFA Youth League debut for Manchester United U19 against Bayer Leverkusen, where he started and played for 69 minutes, as they won 4–3.[6] During the tournament, Weir played two matches in the right–back position for the side.[7] However, in the club's second meeting of the tournament against Bayer Leverkusen, on 27 November 2013, he was sent–off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence, as they lost 3–1.[8]

In the 2015–16 season, Weir spent months training with the first team players.[9] He was later called to the first team by Manager Louis van Gaal and appeared as unused substitute bench against Newcastle United on 12 January 2016.[3][10] Weir made his professional debut on 28 February 2016 in a 3–2 Premier League win at home to Arsenal, coming on as an injury-time substitute for Ander Herrera.[11] After making his debut, he spoke out about the development in the fi5st team at the club.[12] Weir later appeared seven times as an unused substitute bench later in the 2015–16 season, as it turned out to be his only appearance.[13] At the end of the 2015–16 season, Weir was offered a new contract by the club.[14]

Hull City

Instead, on 31 August 2016, Weir signed a three-year contract with Premier League club Hull City.[15] He made his debut on 21 September 2016 in the third round of the League Cup in a 2–1 away win against Stoke City.[16] However, Weir found his first team opportunities limited, as he made two more appearances for the side in the 2016–17 season.[17]

Loan in Wigan

On 31 January 2017, Weir joined Wigan Athletic on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[18] Three days later, he made his debut for the club coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute against Sheffield Wednesday.[19] In a follow–up match, Weir made his first starts for Wigan Athletic, where he played 45 minutes before being substituted at half time, in a 2–2 draw against Norwich City.[20] However, Weir was featured less in the first team as the season progressed and went on to make four sporadic appearances for the side.[21]

Return to Hull

He made his league debut for Hull City on the opening day of the 2017–18 season, 5 August 2017, away at Aston Villa, in a 1–1 draw.[22] Weir later described the previous twelve months as "weird", as he played for three clubs.[23] He later appeared in three more matches for the side.[24] However, while playing for the club's reserves, Weir suffered a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the 2017–18 season.[25] By the time he suffered a knee injury, Weir made four appearances in the 2017–18 season.

The 2018–19 season saw Weir continuing to recover from his knee injury, but was further sidelined with the same injury he sustained last season.[26] He was released by Hull City at the end of the 2018–19 season.[27]

Bolton Wanderers

On 3 August 2019, Weir signed a one-year contract for a newly relegated EFL League One side Bolton Wanderers[28] and made his debut the same day, in a 2–0 defeat against Wycombe Wanderers.[29]

Following this, he began to receive a handful of first team for the side, playing in the midfield position.[30] On 29 October 2019, Weir was subbed off in the first half in an EFL Trophy match against Manchester City U21.[31] Manager Keith Hill criticised Weir for playing badly.[32] His last appearance came on 1 January 2020 against Burton Albion and set up the club's third goal of the game, in a 4–3 loss.[33] With his first team opportunities limited under the management of Hill and the winter arrivals, it was announced on 31 January 2020 that Weir's contract was terminated by mutual consent.[34]

2019–20

On 7 March 2020, Weir signed for Fortuna Liga team Pohronie. It was Weir's first career stop outside England.[35] His debut was delayed due to league postponement caused by the coronavirus pandemic.[36] Weir first appeared in a match for Pohronie on 30 May 2020, during an empty-stadium friendly game ahead of Fortuna Liga restart on 13 June. He scored a first-half goal, setting the score to 2–0. Pohronie won the match 3–1, with the other goals scored by Kojo Matić and Patrik Abrahám, while Ladislav Almási scored Ružomberok's only goal.[37] He did not appear in the away tie, against the same opponent, earlier in the week.[38]

Weir made his Fortuna Liga debut on 13 June at pod Dubňom, in the starting line-up against AS Trenčín. Pohronie lost 4–0 in this league restart and the first match of the shortened Relegation Group. Weir was replaced by Cedric Badolo early in the second-half, after just 54 minutes.[39] While Weir played the first game as an attacking midfielder, for the remainder of the campaign he was assigned more defensive roles and contributed to an undefeated run lasting 4 game - equaling the club's top division record from earlier in the season.

He scored his first goal in the subsequent away game against iClinic Sereď on 21 June. Pohronie took an early lead thanks to Weir's header, following a cross from Ján Hatok, and were two up 15 minutes in, after another goal by Pavlík. Despite the promising lead Sereď came back and equalised the score in the second half with two goals by Filip Pankarićan and Martin Mečiar.[40] The following week, Weir also recorded an assist in an important 1–0 home win over ViOn Zlaté Moravce, with Patrik Abrahám scoring with a header, following Weir's free kick.[41]

Overall, Weir recorded five appearances for Pohronie in the 2019–20 season, scoring a single goal.

2020–21

On 25 June 2020 Weir had extended his contract with Pohronie by a year, signing for the upcoming 2020–21 season.

Career statistics
As of 20 August 2020
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2015–16[42] Premier League 1000000010
Manchester United total 1000000010
Hull City 2016–17[43] Premier League 0000300030
2017–18[44] Championship 3000100040
2018–19[45] 0000000000
Hull City Total 3000400070
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2016–17[43] Championship 4000000400
Bolton Wanderers 2019–20[46] League One 803[lower-alpha 1]01000120
Pohronie 2019–20[47] Fortuna Liga 5 1 0 0 – – 0 0 5 1
2020–21[47] Fortuna Liga 16 5 0 0 – – 0 0 16 5
Career total 376305000456
Notes
  1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

References
  1. "Clubs announce 2015/16 Barclays Premier League squads". premierleague.com. Premier League. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  2. "What happened to the starlet Manchester United pinched from Preston in 2008?". Deepdate Digest. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  3. "Who is James Weir? Manchester United youngster named on the bench at Newcastle United". Manchester Evening News. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  4. "1022 James Weir". On Cloud Seven. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  5. "Manchester United U21 captain James Weir opens up on influential form". Manchester Evening News. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  6. "Manchester United 4–3 Bayer Leverkusen". UEFA Official Website. 17 September 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  7. "Shakhtar Donetsk 2–1 Manchester United". UEFA Official Website. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "United youngsters suffer Sociedad defeat". Manchester Evening News. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  8. "Nine-men Reds youngsters go down but Scholes still has faith". Manchester Evening News. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  9. "Manchester United: Four absent from training as Reds gear up for Wolfsburg clash". Manchester Evening News. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Manchester United manager Van Gaal is restoring faith in club's academy". Manchester Evening News. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Four Manchester United youngsters train with first team ahead of PSV Eindhoven clash". Manchester Evening News. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  10. "Manchester United team news: Morgan Schneiderlin, Ashley Young and Jesse Lingard as Van Gaal makes three changes". Manchester Evening News. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  11. Jurejko, Jonathan (28 February 2016). "Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  12. "Manchester United Under 21 captain James Weir says it's a great time to be in the academy". Manchester Evening News. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  13. "What happened to Louis van Gaal's 14 Manchester United academy debutants". Manchester Evening News. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  14. "Manchester United contracts for 10 young players including Ashley Fletcher, James Weir and Joe Riley". Manchester Evening News. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  15. "Hull City sign James Weir from Manchester United". ESPN FC. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  16. "Stoke City 1–2 Hull City". BBC Sport. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  17. "Hull City 1–1 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Manchester United 2–0 Hull City". BBC Sport. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Three Hull City players who will be hoping for a fresh start under Leonid Slutsky". Hull Daily Mail. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  18. "James Weir & Alex Bruce Join Wigan Athletic On Loan". Hull City A.F.C. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
    "JAMES WEIR SIGNS FOR WIGAN ATHLETIC". Wigan Athletic F.C. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  19. "Wigan Athletic 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  20. "Wigan Athletic 2-2 Norwich City: Omar Bogle nets double on first start for Latics". Sky Sports. 7 February 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  21. "Joyce: Jacobs can be spark to hunt down Wolves". Wigan Today. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Comment: Why Joyce had to go". Wigan Today. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  22. "Aston Villa 1–1 Hull City". BBC Sport. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  23. "WEIR KEEN FOR A CHANCE TO IMPRESS". Hull City A.F.C. 21 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  24. "Hull City 4–0 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Doncaster Rovers 2–0 Hull City". BBC Sport. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Hull City 6–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  25. "WEIR LIKELY TO MISS REST OF SEASON WITH KNEE INJURY". Hull City A.F.C. 23 November 2017. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  26. "James Weir ruled out for six more months after suffering injury setback". Hull Daily Mail. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "James Weir makes comeback as Hull City under-23s fall to defeat at Sheffield Wednesday". Hull Daily Mail. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Hull City vs Swansea prediction, team news, key battle and betting". Hull Daily Mail. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  27. "Fraizer Campbell & David Marshall: Hull City plan to offer duo new deals". BBC Sport. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  28. "Bolton Wanderers: James Weir & Josh Earl sign, Harry Brockbank agrees new deal". BBC Sport. 3 August 2019.
  29. "Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 Bolton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 3 August 2019.
  30. "Bolton could face Tranmere with just TWO senior players". The Bolton News. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "Tranmere Rovers 5 Bolton Wanderers 0: Player ratings". The Bolton News. 18 August 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "COMMENT: Why future-thinking Sam's comments are out of date". The Bolton News. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  31. "Report: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Manchester City U21s". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  32. "Wanderers playmaker Crawford suffers 'potentially serious' knee injury". The Bolton News. 29 October 2019.
  33. "Bolton Wanderers 3–4 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  34. "Weir Departs Wanderers". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 31 January 2020.
    "Bolton Wanderers boss Keith Hill explains Politic and Weir absence". The Bolton News. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
    "What happened to Bolton's youngest-ever team against Coventry?". The Bolton News. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  35. "Nová posila z Anglicka" (in Slovak). FK Pohronie. 7 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  36. s, SPORT SK, s r o & Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia a. "Únia ligových klubov dočasne rozhodla o osude Fortuna Ligy". Šport.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  37. "Žilina zdolala Podbrezovú, Pohronie si poradilo s Ružomberkom | spravy.sk". futbal.spravy.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  38. GIBOX,s.r.o (www.gibox.cc), Generované pomocou YGScms spoločnosti. "Ruža nás nezdolala". fkpohronie.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  39. http://www.bart.sk, webdesign and software: bart sk s r o. "AS Trenčín - FK POHRONIE Žiar nad Hronom Dolná Ždaňa | 4 - 0". ulk.futbalnet.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  40. "ŠKF Sereď - FK Pohronie". sport.aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  41. s, SPORT SK, s r o & Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia a. "FK Pohronie - FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce". Šport.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  42. "Games played by James Weir in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  43. "Games played by James Weir in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  44. "Games played by James Weir in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  45. "Games played by James Weir in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  46. "Games played by James Weir in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  47. "England - J. Weir". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.