Fans hail ‘brilliant’ late replacement as Simon Thomas forced to pull out of Sky Sports Soccer Saturday at short notice
VIEWERS hailed late replacement Caroline Barker as “terrific” and a “natural” after Simon Thomas pulled out of hosting Sky Sports Soccer Saturday due to Covid.
Versatile broadcaster Barker was called “brilliant” and a future candidate for the permanent role after stepping in on a day the Premier League returned in dramatic fashion.
Thomas had only revealed on Saturday morning he would miss the long-running show after illness hit his family.
But football fans reckon Barker, 42, presented the busy schedule as if she had been doing it for years.
One observer wrote: “Caroline Barker smashing Soccer Saturday. Such a natural presence on screen.”
Another suggested she “should get this gig permanently. Absolutely terrific today”.
Thomas has had a mixed reception from viewers this season after being asked to do the near-impossible – replace fans’ favourite Jeff Stelling.
But viewers wished him a speedy recovery after he revealed he had to sit out this Saturday at the eleventh hour.
He posted: “Sadly no #soccersaturday for me today – #Covid has hit the Thomas household.
“@carolinebarker is in the hot seat today. Go well CB – you’ll be brilliant. See you next week.”
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And viewers believe his prediction on Barker was spot-on.
They described her as a “great stand-in presenter” and “class”.
And one viewer wrote: “Feel like Sky may have missed a trick by not giving her the gig when Stelling left.”
It came on the day Liverpool snatched a late draw at champions Manchester City, Arsenal went top with a late winner at Brentford and Brighton’s Lewis Dunk saw red for two yellow cards in 12 seconds.