The English striker backed to emulate Alan Shearer and Harry Kane but is now unemployed at 31

English football has seen many gifted young talents fall by the wayside.

There was Michael Johnson, who many expected to be a future England captain after his move to Manchester City, only for the midfielder to be released at 24 before becoming an estate agent.

Ravel Morrison was another special prospect – one Sir Alex Ferguson even said was better than Wayne Rooney as a youngster – who failed to live up to the expectation.

The Mancunian is at least still playing football in the United Arab Emirates – but another Englishman who was tipped for greatness is now without a club at the age of 31 in Connor Wickham.

What Alan Pardew and Niall Quinn said about Connor Wickham

After bursting onto the scene at Ipswich – earning a £12m move to Sunderland at the age of 18 – the man from Hereford was compared to some top players.

Niall Quinn – a legend at the Stadium of Light – even backed Wickham to be Sunderland’s answer to Alan Shearer, saying in 2014: “I think he can be Sunderland’s Alan Shearer. It is a high bar to set for him, but I believe he can.”

Alan Pardew was another who backed the striker to become a superstar. As Harry Kane began to make a name for himself at Tottenham, the then-Crystal Palace boss said: “Wickham coming back to us has given us a huge lift. If he gets goals on the back of his performances we’re going to have a real player.

“People will start talking about Connor Wickham and not Harry Kane if Connor starts adding goals.”

What happened to Connor Wickham?

Sadly, injuries seriously affected the Ipswich academy graduate.

One knee injury – suffered at Crystal Palace in November 2016 – even saw Wickham spend almost two years on the sidelines. Since the 2010/11 campaign, he has sadly missed 174 games due to injuries.

Wickham spent time on loan at Sheffield Wednesday after Crystal Palace surprisingly handed him a new contract – a show of faith in his ability despite missing a multitude of games – although he was unable to regain full fitness, even during later spells at Preston, MK Dons, Forest Green Rovers and Cardiff.

The Englishman is now without a club after being released by Charlton in June 2024.