This interview was initially published in the Crystal Palace v Sunderland programme in September 2025 - you can buy issues of the matchday programme by clicking HERE .

"Growing up if you’re a full-back,” former centre-back Jamie Carragher gleefully declared on Monday Night Football back in 2015. “You’re either a failed winger or a failed centre-back.

“I mean no-one wants to be a full-back as a kid… no-one wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville!”

In fairness to the former England and Liverpool defender, it’s a great line. But like so many great footballing quotes, it is a half-truth, at best.

It wasn’t the case for a young Tyrick Mitchell, who at that time was barely 16 years of age.

Then in Brentford’s academy and learning his trade, Mitchell wasn’t at all inhibited by the prospec

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