Toure nets on final day as fellow Socceroo scents EPL

Toure finished up on the losing side for the Canaries in their final match of the season, as they went down 2-1 to Hull City, who, like Middlesbrough, booked their place in the four-team playoffs.

But the 22-year-old concluded his remarkable three-month campaign since he signed from Danish club Randers in familiar fashion, swivelling for a sharply taken eighth-minute opener with a neat volley from Anis Ben Slimane's brilliant lobbed assist.

It's taken him to 10 goals in his injury-interrupted spell, which also featured him becoming the first player in Norwich's 124-year history to score two hat-tricks in his first 10 matches for the club.

In other good news for Socceroos boss Tony Popovic, key midfielder McGree was back in action after another recent injury setback, coming on the second half of Middlesbrough's 2-2 draw at Wrexham.

McGree was part of Boro's playoff campaign in 2023 when they also missed out on their dream of returning to the top-flight.

Now he'll be looking to fare better as they host Southampton in the playoff semis first leg next Saturday, with the return at St Mary's on the following Tuesday. Hull play Millwall in the other semi, with the final set for Wembley on May 23.

The Socceroos may also be casting a few wistful glances at the form of Sydney's Adrian Segecic, who's been in scintillating form ever since he announced he was throwing in his lot with Croatia at international level rather than Australia.

The exciting 21-year-old midfielder ended his season with a fifth goal in three games, and his 11th of the season, for Portsmouth in their 1-1 draw with Birmingham City.

Segecic also kicked off a storm after Pompey had returned the ball following a stoppage for injury to one of their opponents, deciding to chase the ball down and firing just over the bar to leave Birmingham's players rounding on him, enraged at what they saw as unsportsmanlike conduct. He also got booked for his trouble.