San Francisco 49ers Kerry Hyder Jr on keeping Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles quiet in front of Leeds United Watch Party

Like Kerry Hyder Jr, not one of the standout names of the 212 players left standing who are hoping to be part of a Super Bowl-winning team, but a vital piece of the jigsaw for the San Francisco 49ers no less.

As a defensive end, the 31-year-old from Texas, is tasked with helping shut down Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles’ mobile, MVP-calibre quarterback in Sunday night’s NFC Championship game, an event 49ers and NFL fans are invited to enjoy via a Watch Party at Elland Road.

Hyder does not make as make as many headlines as a Hurts, a Mahomes the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs who face Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship game later on Sunday evening, or a Purdy, the 262nd and last player picked in last year’s draft who has accelerated San Francisco’s run to the post-season since succeeding two injured quarterbacks ahead of him.

Hyder wasn’t even drafted. He has had to scrap for everything he has earned on five different teams.

"It would mean everything,” he says from the 49ers locker room this week, when asked about the prospect of winning Super Bowl LVII in Arizona next month. “I guess you would call me something of a journeyman, so to win a Super Bowl and have a home and a place I can always come back to, to finally get to the big game, I get chills just thinking about it.

"But you’ve got to understand there’s no tomorrow, you can’t think too far ahead or what might happen before or after the game. All we can think about is the Eagles and finding a way to win.

"Doesn’t matter if it’s by a bunch or by a little, it doesn’t matter, it’s finding a way to win.”

​Hurts has thrown for 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions in his third season as the Eagles’ starting quarterback.

His play helped the Eagles win the NFC East and earn the No 1 seed in the National Football Conference. The 49ers were the second seeds, and while Hyder rejects any notion of them going into Philadelphia as marginal underdogs, he knows keeping Hurts quiet will go a long way to helping San Francisco reach a seventh Super Bowl in the history of one of the sport’s most storied franchises.

"You’ve got to account for him, he’s their quarterback, he gets their team going, he’s their MVP candidate,” Hyder told The Yorkshire Post.

“As a group we’ve got to stop him.

"He’s had a great year, but obviously we have too and as a group we’re excited for that challenge.

​"We’re a good team, they are, this is where good teams meet, the Championship game. It’s going to come down to one or two plays.”

Sunday’s Watch Party at Elland Road begins at 6.30pm (kick-off from 8pm). Upon arrival, each attendee will receive a team-branded giveaway item, whilst a limited food menu and bar will be available for all attendees to enjoy throughout the duration of the game. The game will be shown on all screens at the venue.

During the broadcast, attendees will be treated to Levi’s ® Stadium likeness which includes chants, scoring songs, starting lineups, etc. At the end of each quarter, there will be a raffle featuring 49ers prizes, and memorabilia.

Visit the Leeds United website to get your free ticket.