History might be repeating itself for Mark McGhee as he cultivates the career of a gifted Irish rookie he's adamant has all the raw materials to become a strike sensation.
The Motherwell boss is the perfect choice to enhance loan star Cillian Sheridan's development - 10 years after being mesmerised by another young Irishman destined for the top.
McGhee rates Richard Sadlier the most talented player he has ever worked with.
Having coached the likes of Robbie Keane and Tim Cahill, that's quite a compliment.
Sadlier was an Irish international striker McGhee had at Millwall before his career was tragically cut short by injury.
At youth level he partnered Keane for Ireland and was to be included in Mick McCarthy's squad for the 2002 World Cup - until a hip problem forced him to quit.
Incredibly, Sadlier and Sheridan both played for Belvedere Boys Club in Dublin a decade apart.
Now McGhee is so impressed by on-loan Hoops hitkid Cillian he's compared him to his former protege - and reckons the 20-year-old can enjoy the top-level career denied to his countryman.
Mark said: "A hip injury finished Richard.
But before anyone really knew about that we'd had a bid of £7million for him.
"Potentially, he was the best player I've ever worked with. He was 6ft 5in, quick and had a Thierry Henry-like touch.
"He could finish, was brave, ambitious - he had everything. I don't know if Cillian will be as good as Sadlier might have been but I see so much of him in Richard.
"Sheridan excites me.
With his stature he'll become a traditional No.9. He's big and mobile - too good a player, just to play off someone.
"I see him as a future Celtic No.9. There was no suggestion of Cillian staying here longer than the end of May - Gordon Strachan wants him back.
"I see him emerging into a player the Republic of Ireland will benefit from and he'll have a good career. Getting a run of games here will bring him on more than being a sub at Celtic.
"Gordon has sacrificed Cillian now but balanced that with knowing he'll go back there next season as a serious contender."
Sheridan bagged his first goal for Well last weekend against Inverness, and McGhee is delighted with his early impact.
The Fir Park gaffer revealed the youngster - who turned his back on a career in Gaelic and Australian Rules Football - was his top target when leading scorer Chris Porter left for Derby.
McGhee said: "Porter lacked aggression when he came here but the SPL brought that out of him.
"He got stronger and Cillian also has to become more physical. He has work to do in the gym and could carry another three quarters of a stone.
"But he's only 20. He'll mature in the next couple of years and by 23 you'll see a change - he'll emerge as a real beast. At the moment he's still a bit floppy. "He's an excellent finisher and hits the ball so hard.
"Some players frustrate me by not striking the ball powerfully but Cillian certainly gives it a skelps."
McGhee believes if his side can score 25 goals before the end of the campaign they will climb to fourth place in the SPL and seal Europa League qualification.
That's why he's started an incentive scheme that has provided a bit of fun among his squad.
He said: "I've set them all goal targets and put up a chart. The strikers have a set amount to hit, same with midfielders, the full-backs have to get a couple and it's one between the others!
"I've told them we need 25 goals to finish fourth. If we hit that target we won't be far off. They get a sticker if they score, it's a bit of fun and an incentive that works."
Italian manager Marcello Lippi is preparing himself for a tough game against Ireland when the sides meet in a World Cup qualifier in Bari on April 1st. Lippi, who was in Dublin last month to watch Ireland’s 2-1 qualifier win against Georgia, is coming round to the view that Ireland, coached by his old rival, Giovanni Trapattoni, may well represent the biggest obstacle on the Italian road to South Africa.
“The Ireland I saw in Dublin was a team full of enthusiasm. They conceded a goal in the opening minute and then they really risked it because just a few seconds before the Irish equaliser, the Georgians hit the post and scored an offside goal.
“Basically, in the space of seconds, Ireland went from being almost 0-2 down to equalising. But that’s football now, you can lose against any team these days. In the end, the real Ireland emerged, that is a team which has some very good players, guys like (Aiden) McGeady and (Damien) Duff on the flanks. This is a side full of physically strong players, like the centre forward (Kevin) Doyle. All in all, this is a good side that merits plenty of respect.”
Asked by The Irish Times if he had noticed the “hand” of his erstwhile colleague Trapattoni at work, Lippi replied: “You can see the hand, the foot and the head of Il Trap at work in this side.”
Lippi argues the qualifier against Ireland comes at a psychologically delicate moment of the season when at club and country level, results may prove to have long-term implications: “This is an important month not just for Italian football but for all European football. We’re now at the cup tie stage of the Champions League, an elimination and March can mean that for some clubs the whole season has been a total failure. And right in the middle of this come these World Cup qualifiers.”
Win, lose or draw against Ireland, Lippi takes great pride in the fact an Italian colleague will be sitting in the manager’s seat of the opposing team. Asked about the current standing of Italian football, he replied: “For so long, the Anglo-Saxon world has looked down its nose at Italian football and tended to jeer us and yet, just look, the current coach of England is an Italian, while you have Trapattoni in Ireland. I think that speaks for itself and answers your question.”
Looking forward to the Ireland game, Lippi said it was much too early to speculate about his ideal lineout for the Bari encounter for the good reason that the match was still one month away and that before meeting Ireland, Italy first have a difficult away game against Montenegro in Podgorica.
Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup triumph in Germany three years ago, confirmed yesterday he was glad to be back at the helm of the Italian side, having taken over from Roberto Donadoni immediately after last summer’s European Championship finals in Austria and Switzerland. Looking back on his decision to resign as Italy coach immediately after the Germany World Cup, he said that within one month of giving up the job, he realised he had made a huge mistake. Life without football was just too boring.
Supersub Shane Long rewarded the Reading manager's faith with a crucial late winner at Sheffield Wednesday.
Hillsborough hero Long got the nod ahead of Leroy Lita on Tuesday night and the Irish youngster stepped off the bench to fired home in the 81st minute to complete a stunning fightback by Steve Coppell's men.
It was Reading's first away win since they turned over Birmingham City 3-1 at St Andrew's on December 20 and their first of any kind in five matches.
And Royals fans will be hoping this could be the result that will also reignite their flagging promotion campaign after weeks of disappointment.
Trailing to Sean McAllister's strike in first-half injury time, the visitors stormed back after the break and grabbed the cricual equaliser through Kevin Doyle before Long netted his fuorth of the season to secured the points and the headlines with the clock ticking down.
"Shane is a good player and for a couple of years now we have wanted to give him a real run in the team.
"But we're blessed with some good forwards and Shane is the best impact substitute I've got.
"He won't be happy to hear me say that, but we know something is going to happen when he comes on.
"Was it a fair result? I really don't know. It was very competitive and it could have gone either way. But we just edged it at the final whistle."
With just one point from three home games in February, Coppell was glad to see the back of a `disastrous' month that ended with defeats to Bristol City and struggling Nottingham Forest.
After changing his side against Forest on Saturday, he tinkered with his squad again by handing Jay Tabb his full league debut in place of Jimmy Kebe and naming Long on the bench instead of Lita.
But Royals boss knew better than to expect an easy game against a Wednesday side determied to avenge their 6-0 hammering at the Madejski Stadium earlier in the season.
The Owls have improved since then and boss Brian Laws made just the one change to the side which turned over Burnley 4-2 away from home at the weekend with captain Richard Wood back to replace Richard Hinds.
However, the visitors made their intentions clear from the off with Marek Matejovsky pulling the strings as the rain lashed down on Hillsborough.
It was not a night for goalkeepers, but Adam Federici was alert to snuff out the danger with Marcus Tudgay bearing down and Michael Gray sent a 25-yard free-kick whistling inches wide of the post as the Owls fought for early supremacy.
Despite the recent clump, Coppell's men were full of running and they nearly broke the deadlock in the 15th minute when ex-Sheffield United left-back Chris Armstrong skipped past two defenders but dragged his shot wide.
And eight minutes later they went closer again when Stephen Hunt's looping free-kick stuck the bar after a faint touch from Owls keeper Lee Grant.
Tabb then made a strong run to the edge of the box but his shot lacked power and frustrations began to creep in as the chances went begging.
No-one will have felt it more than Noel Hunt who went crashing to the ground in the box following a challenge from Mark Beevers. But referee Andy Hall deemed it a dive and booked the distraught Irishman.
And if that wasn't enough to make Coppell's blood boil, Wednesday then took a shock lead in first-half injury time.
The hosts lumped a hopeful ball into the area which Michael Duberry missed. Leon Clarke showed great control to kill the ball and lay it off to the on-rushing Sean McAlister who smashed it past Federici from 10 yards out.
It was a hammer blow for Coppell's men and Royals' boss reacted immediately by replacing the injured Tabb with Kebe at half-time.
And the move paid off when the visitors got back on level terms in the 56th minute after a sustained spell of pressure.
Grant made a sensational one-handed save to tip Rosenior's audacious volley around the post. Wednesday failed to clear the first corner and when Matejovsky whipped in a second the ball was flicked on to Doyle who nodded it in at the back post for his first goal since the 4-0 win over Watford on January 9.
More importantly, it also ended his side's worrying goal drought and it was the first scored by a Reading player in a whopping 598 minutes of action.
The relief was almost palpable as Reading searched for a winner and Duberry went close with a bullet header from Stephen Hunt's corner.
But the few hundred travelling fans were on the edge of their seats in the 80th minute when Clarke fired past Federici, only for the linesman to correctly rule it out for a shove on Alex Pearce.
And how it came back to haunt them as within a minute Royals got their winner.
Wednesday sub James O'Connor lost the ball in midfield to a strong Duberry challenge, Stephen Hunt burst forward then found Long lurking on the right,
The Republic of Ireland striker still had plenty to do but gave Grant no chance by drilling the ball high into the net from a tight angle to send Reading fans in front of him into a frenzy.
Wednesday threw the kitchen sink at Royals in a frantic finish and Federici denied his opposite number Grant with a tremendous save from virtually the last kick of the game.
Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson hopes to give manager Giovanni Trapattoni the inside scoop on fellow Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov, ahead of the World Cup Qualifier against Bulgaria on March 28th.
Gibson and fellow Ireland star John O’Shea come up against their clubmate in the qualifier knowing that three points from the game will go some way to cementing their hopes of a play-off place in Group Eight.
“I am sure John O’Shea and I will give the manager tips on how to handle Berbatov,” he said.
“John will probably be playing centre-half against Bulgaria, so he will have a really good idea of what he is up against.
“He [Berbatov] is a world-class player, everyone knows what he can do and I have seen first-hand just what he is capable of. It is going to be great coming up against him. It is always good to come up against your team-mates, and hopefully we can win.”
Gibson played in the United side that won the Carling Cup on penalties against Tottenham on Sunday, and is delighted that he is now starting to get regular game time for the Premier League champions.
“My chances have come this season, and I have taken them as well, so I am delighted," he continued.
“It was absolutely brilliant to be out there, and although it was nerve-wracking to watch the penalty shoot-out, I thought that we deserved to win.
“I never worried that it was not going to happen for me United because I never really had a proper go at it. If it had not happened to me this season then perhaps I would have been worried.”
FIFA President Sepp Blatter seems to have finally 'Put To Bed' any prospect of the Football authorities in the North blocking prospective young international footballers from the North of Ireland, from representing Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland on the international stage.
President Blatter, who was in Newcastle, County Down for an International Football Association board meeting, was unequivocal in his belief that players from the North are clearly eligible to play for Ireland and he backed the FAI’s stance that it is working within FIFA’s rules when selecting players from throughout the Island of Ireland and he stated yesterday “ We will propose that any player born in the North can play for the South too”
Blatter revealed that FIFA’s legal committee will inform the board later this month that any player born on the island of Ireland will continue to be free to represent Ireland at international level.
As revealed by Blatter yesterday:
“As the Legal Committee understands it, the situation is such that all Northern Irish footballers could opt to play for both teams, given that they have a birthright to an Irish passport. Evidently, the same is not applicable to the footballers of the Republic, who do not have such a claim”.
The whole saga has reached farcical proportions at times during the last number of years with the North’s international manager Nigel Worthington personally ringing players and basically offering senior caps if players returned to play for his team.
The IFA are likely to react with anger over FIFA’s decision, even though they have consistently failed to acknowledge, and ignore the fact that, for a large proportion of football supporters in the North, Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland always have, and always will be their No.1 international choice.
The natural knock-on effect of this support is that young prospective internationals growing up in the North, will want to play for the team who they have grown up supporting and following, as was the case For Co. Antrim Ireland u21 international Marc Wilson.
The hypocrisy of the IFA stance on eligibility is best represented by their German born goalkeeper Maik Taylor, who despite have no parental or grandparent linkage to the team, has represented the North on over seventy occasions during the last ten years.
And in more recent times the North’s Under 21 manager Steve Beaglenhole has spoken of his confidence in attracting England under 19 internationals Chris Stokes and Oliver Norwood into his set-up.
This is clearly a common sense decision from FIFA and will further solidify the link between Trapattoni’s Ireland and a large section of the footballing public North of the border.
The last word is best left to Portsmouth’s County Antrim born midfielder Marc Wilson, who said in a recent article "I think everybody has their own personal reasons for wanting to play for the Republic or the North. I grew up supporting the Republic so it was a comfortable decision for me."
Stephen Hunt has said that there would be 'a riot' if Stephen Ireland only decided to return to the Republic Of Ireland set-up for the World Cup Finals.
Reading star Hunt is clearly unimpressed with the Manchester City midfielder, who has not played for his country since concocting a story about the death of his grandmother in 2007.
On the subject of whether Ireland would return for a possible appearance in the Finals, Hunt told the Sunday Independent: "I'm sure Stephen Ireland wouldn't do that, you'd want to be very sure of yourself to do that.
"I don't think it would be healthy, that wouldn't go down well but then again we want the best players in the squad."
Hunt admits is getting bored with the constant speculation about the Manchester City midfielder.
"I think it's up to one man to come out and clarify the situation, to give someone an indication, whether it's that he'll play next year or in three games' time.
"But it seems like Stephen is just sitting there and not helping anyone. He needs to clarify it and ease the pressure so we know what he's going to do. Then it's up to the manager to pick him."
Hot property James McCarthy is ready to snub a mega move this summer - after insisting he won't leave Hamilton to sit on the sidelines of a bigger club.
The 18-year-old Irish u21 midfielder admits money talks and Accies could look to cash in if one of his many admirers were to lodge a lucrative bid But the level-headed star insists he will only move on if he is guaranteed a top-flight game every week - and he knows that won't happen. As prepared for today' visit of SPL leaders Rangers, McCarthy, left, said: "I'm really happy where I am. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the summer.
"I know that if someone comes in and the club accept an offer then you need to sit down and talk with the club and those around you who give you decent advice.
"But I'm happy to be playing week in week out in the SPL.
"I wouldn't be pleased just sitting in the stands or playing in the reserves. That's not going to do my career any good.
"I'm happy to get as many games as I can at the top, keep improving and see what happens from there.
I'm very content at the moment."
To enhance that point, McCarthy is desperate for Billy Reid to remain his manager next season.
The Ireland Under-21 international reckons the Accies boss will also be a wanted man when the campaign ends because of the success he has enjoyed in his debut season in the SPL.
McCarthy said: "I definitely don't want the gaffer to go anywhere because he gave me my chance and has been so influential in my development.
"There is so much still to do and I really want to continue working with him.
"I hope the manager stays. It's only natural that a successful boss will have clubs looking at him but this is a great club."
Accies are just a point off the top six and 10 ahead of bottom club Inverness. Having been promoted to the top flight only last summer, it is no surprise McCarthy is looking over his shoulder rather than up at the stars.
He said: "We are on a good wee run but are not going to get too carried away.
"We'll keep our feet on the ground and make sure our priority is to stay in this league.
"We're not thinking about the top six and we let other people do all the talking.
"Our target this season is just to stay in the SPL."
Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson can't wait to get his first taste of playing at Wembley, when Manchester United face Spurs in the Carling Cup final, this Sunday.
The gifted 21-year-old whose place in the starting line-up for this weekend looks assured, after manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that he had earned his place following a man of the match display in the recent FA Cup win over Derby County.
"Darron Gibson did really well on Sunday," said Ferguson following the match at Pride Park.
"He has got into the Carling Cup final team with that performance. He has played in every round, so he deserves it."
Nevertheless the modest Gibson, talking prior to Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Inter Milan were he was on the bench, is just taking everything in his stride.
"Obviously I and everyone at the club is concentrating on the Inter game, but I know later in the week everyone will be buzzing for the cup," he said.
"Personally if I get the chance to play at Wembley then it will be unbelievable, but even though the manager said something after the Derby match about me starting in the cup final, he hasn't said anything to me."
"I can't wait until Sunday now, I'm really looking forward to it" said Darron. "If I start the game it will be the highlight of my career, make no mistake about that, but it will all count for nothing if we don't win the trophy.
"I've never been to Wembley, but I don't think I will be intimidated. I've played at Croke Park with the Republic of Ireland and at Old Trafford with United and both hold just as many supporters as Wembley does".
"I've had a good run in the Carling Cup this season, having played in every game and I'm really looking forward to playing in the final. It will be my first big final so it will be great to be part of it.
"But, to be honest, I would understand if I didn't start and the 'gaffer' chose to go with a stronger team, but I would also be extremely disappointed if I didn't play a part in the game."
Manager Alex Ferguson has talked about the Competition for places in the centre of Uniteds midfield
"The young ones who have played in the League Cup will play in it," said Ferguson. "I'm not changing my mind on that one.
"The middle of midfield is my biggest problem. I've got more options there than anywhere else.
"I've got Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and young Darron Gibson who is coming on in leaps and bounds. It gives me headaches, but more options."
The young midfielder's mother and father John and Liz are making the trip from Derry to Wembley.
In fact it seems over a dozen family and friends are all going to cheer on their boy.
"I have heard quite a few people are making the trip over from the city, so hopefully I can give them something to cheer about."
Having really started to break into the current European and World Club Champions side this season, the Hazelbank lad has played in a number of positions, but a place in centre midfield looks to be his spot on Sunday.
"Obviously you don't mind playing in whatever position the manager tells you as long as you are playing, but I played well enough in the Derby game because I won the man of the match award, so I think if I do start on Sunday then I'll be in there."
Gibby, like every player on the Old Trafford books states that the manager gives him and all the squad the belief that they are good enough to play for the biggest club in the world.
"The manager has won everything in the game so if he has faith in you, which he has shown not just to me but a lot of the other younger players in the Carling Cup then that can only help you," concluded the Derry man.
Sheffield United have signed Watford & Ireland U21 midfielder John Joe O'Toole on loan for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old, who has scored eight goals this season, could make his debut in Sunday's clash with Birmingham.
O'Toole said: "I'm just delighted to come up here. I jumped at the opportunity."
"I just want to do my best here and hopefully put a few in the net and see what happens," added the Ireland Under-21 international.
O'Toole was rumoured to be a January transfer window target for Championship leaders Wolves prior to Christmas.
But he has fallen out of favour at Vicarage Road, having not started a league game for Watford since being substituted at half time in the 4-2 home defeat to Bristol City on Boxing Day.
He will not be available for the Blades' FA Cup fifth round replay against Hull City on Thursday night as he is cup tied
Motherwell winger Jim O'Brien is determined to break into the Ireland senior squad - even if he suffers the same abuse dished out to James McCarthy & Aidan McGeady.
The Fir Park winger has, like Hamilton rival McCarthy, opted to represent Ireland on the international stage.
Jim lived with his grandad John, who moved to Scotland at 18, for a decade before his death in 2000. From that moment the ex-Celtic kid vowed to play for Ireland and has represented ‘The Boys In Green’ at U19 & U21 levels.
Now a regular for Motherwell, O'Brien believes he can catch the eye of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni and force his way into the Italian's plans for the future.
If he succeeds, Jim is likely to face the same sectarianism endured every week by Hamilton wonderkid James McCarthy, from fans who seem intent on bringing shame on the SPL.
But the 21-year-old insists he's ready for anything the bigots throw at him if it means a call-up.
Jim said: "The international scene has never left my mind. I believe I can make the Ireland set-up but it's about playing consistently well here, If I'm playing every week here I don't see why I can't break in to the squad. There are guys in the Irish league who have been capped and the SPL is a better standard.
"The stick James gets is poor. But if fans believe they can put someone off their game they'll do it. I used to get abuse warming-up at Ibrox but you have to get on with it. It doesn't seem to bother James because he is doing well. And if I get stick, it won't bother me".
"I've made a decision I'm willing to stick to. I had a great connection with my grandad and wanted to play for him after he died. Hopefully a cap will come."
After a slow start at Fir Park, O'Brien is now starting to fulfil the potential he showed at Celtic. He was tipped to make an impact in Gordon Strachan's side but the breakthrough never came. O'Brien spent time on loan at Dunfermline two years ago and helped them reach the Scottish Cup Final against the Hoops.
He was devastated when Strachan refused him permission to play at Hampden because of fears he wouldn't be accepted by Celtic fans if he'd prevented them winning the trophy.
O’Brien said: "The cup final was probably the end of my Celtic career. You want to play on the big occasions but I didn't get the chance at Hampden. Gordon didn't want me to miss out but after thinking it through, he changed his mind".
"I might have been the difference that day because it was a tight game that Celtic won 1-0. Gordon said I could hardly play in the cup final, do something against them, then go back and expect to get in the team. I don't hold grudges. But last season I didn't get a fair crack of the whip at Celtic".
"There were cup games where I felt I could have played and people were telling me my chance was coming. Aiden McGeady was suspended for an Old Firm match and I was tipped to start. Sadly Phil O'Donnell died and the game was postponed. But I got a clean break by coming here and want to do well."
O'Brien is adamant he can help the Steelmen put a serious dent in Celtic's title hopes today on Fir Park's dodgy pitch.
Jim said: "We can have a say in the title race by getting results against Rangers and Celtic, especially on that pitch.
"We're on a good run and Celtic have hit a sticky patch. I want to show what they missed out on."
Irish midfielder Keith Fahey admits that he is stunned with how quickly Birmingham City fans have turned him into a St Andrew’s star.
Despite having only played a handful of games for his new club, Fahey already seems to be held in high regard by Birmingham supporters. Little over two months ago, the Dubliner was unknown to even the most ardent of Blues fans, yet internet groups in his honour have already sprouted up - including one that takes a swipe at local rivals Villa called: ‘Keith Fahey is better than Gareth Barry’.
His first goal in English football, described as ‘Messi-like’ by Blues boss Alex McLeish and ‘a fluke’ by Fahey himself, last weekend further heightened his reputation in the blue half of Birmingham. And having spent several seasons at St Pat’s Athletic and Drogheda United in the League of Ireland, the modest midfielder admits to being taken aback by the early attention.
“I am a bit surprised, I’ve done alright,” said 26-year-old Fahey. “In the games I’ve come on, I’ve made an impact, I’ve done OK in the games I’ve played and the fluke goal did me favours.
“The fans haven’t seen a lot of me, they’ve only seen me play in a few near-full games and a few substitute appearances so it’s nice. They’re probably just looking out for someone new".
Hamilton prodigy James McCarthy polished his credentials as one of Scottish football's best young talents again at Falkirk on Saturday with a moment of magic to help Accies take all three points.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who has been capped at under-21 level for Ireland, picked up the young player of the month award for January and has carried on his good form as Billy Reid's side continue their unlikely progress up the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
With 15 minutes remaining at The Falkirk Stadium, and the game tied at 1-1, McCarthy set up Paul McGowan to score the winning goal with the most delicate of chipped passes.
Reid, who seems to have spent almost every week of the club's first season in the SPL praising the youngster, was left once again grasping for superlatives.
"In the last eight or nine weeks he has been fantastic," Reid said.
"In every game he plays he produces a bit of skill.
"His pass and movement with McGowan for the goal was fantastic.
"He is sublime at times but he works back the way as well. His consistency for a young player is astonishing."
Accies defender Chris Swailes, who scored an almost comical own goal to gift Falkirk the lead before Simon Mensing spared his blushes by grabbing the equaliser, was the latest team-mate of McCarthy to predict big things for the teenager.
"He is a promising lad and I think he will hit the heights," the Englishman said.
"Whether he stays in Scotland remains to be seen but the world is his oyster.
"I imagine Hamilton's problem will be holding on to him.
"As long as he is playing well for us then that is great but there will be a few people knocking on the door."
Tipped as relegation candidates before the season kicked off, Hamilton find themselves fighting for a top-six spot after a sticky start and Reid praised his players for adapting to the rigours of the SPL.
"It has taken us to halfway through the season to learn to win games and now we are doing that regularly," he said.
There will be no place for Cillian Sheridan in the Motherwell attack against Celtic on Sunday – the young Irishman is on loan from the club and cannot play against them – but that could work against the Parkhead side, according to Mark McGhee.
The Motherwell manager said: "To be truthful, if Cillian had been OK to turn out I would probably have played 4-4-2 with him and David Clarkson up front.
"But now I'll maybe leave Clarkson on his own and as a result we should be a bit stuffier. The fact that we can't play him might not help Celtic."
There is no official rule about loan players being prohibited from facing their main employers, but Scottish clubs observe a self-denying ordinance. "If Sheridan played against us it would be an awful lot of pressure on him," said Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager.
"What if he got a penalty kick in the last minute and cost us points? Or what if he fouled in the Motherwell box and we got a last-minute winner from that?"
Strachan, though, believes that Motherwell pose considerable threat even without Sheridan. "They weren't doing well earlier in the season but that's because Mark had a lot of players missing from a small squad. Since they've come back you can see the difference in Motherwell's form – they're on a run now and we have to be very careful."
More than two years after he was first called into the Ireland squad by Steve Staunton, Preston North End defender Sean St Ledger is still waiting for his first international cap.
And while the centre-half has admitted his frustration at being left out in the cold under Giovanni Trapattoni, he has dismissed suggestions that he is about to turn his back on Ireland and throw in his lot with Northern Ireland.
The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in defence for a Preston side who are in fourth place in the Championship table and has earned widespread praise for his defensive displays.
But the FAI have yet to come calling again for St Ledger, who qualified for Ireland through his Carlow-born grandfather, and some fans at Deepdale were surprised when young full back Eddie Nolan was called into the Irish squad for the recent World Cup qualifier against Georgia as defensive cover ahead of St Ledger.
"I am frustrated and disappointed that my chance with Ireland hasn't come yet, but I will just have to be patient and wait for my chance if it comes along," St Ledger told the Evening Herald.
"But there is no chance of me turning away from Ireland and looking to play for Northern Ireland, one or two people mentioned it to me but it's not in my mind. My allegiance is to Ireland and no one else, I don't just want to get international caps for anyone, I want to play for Ireland so there's no chance of me playing for anyone else.
"An international career with Ireland would be amazing for me, but sometimes you can't get too hung up on these things and sometimes they happen when you least expect them, that was the case when I was first in the Ireland squad three years ago, the call came from nowhere and maybe I'll get that call out of the blue again someday.
"Giovanni Trapattoni and his staff know where I am and where I play, they have been to see us play and they were impressed with Eddie Nolan when they saw him play for Preston, I just hope I get a chance to catch the eye again."
St Ledger, who made his name with Peterborough United before a move to Preston in 2006, was briefly involved with the Ireland U21 side under Don Givens but was never capped and his first real taste of international football was when Steve Staunton caused a major surprise by adding the Preston man to his senior squad for the opening game of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
Just months earlier he had been playing in England's fourth division (League Two) but in September 2006 St Ledger was on the bench for Ireland's 1-0 defeat in Stuttgart against Germany - the man next in line for the central defensive positions if anything had happened to first-choice centre halves Richard Dunne and Andy O'Brien - and was also a sub for the qualifiers against Cyprus and the Czech Republic.
But since then there's been nothing, and like other players who emerged into prominence in the Staunton era (Jon Douglas, Alan O'Brien, Jay Tabb, Darren Potter), there has been no involvement with the national team under Trapattoni.
"It's disappointing not to get the call but I will wait my turn," he adds. "I'm not the only one who has been left out, I think our striker here Stephen Elliott should be in the Ireland squad as well. We have four Irish players here: myself, Stephen, Wayne Henderson and Eddie Nolan, it would be great for the club to have all four of us in the squad.
"We might get a chance in the summer, Ireland have that game against Nigeria in London in May and then the qualifier in Bulgaria in June, by that stage some of the Premier League players might be injured or unavailable so I have to make sure I am fit and ready if the call does come.
"Ireland don't have too many central defenders at the moment. Richard Dunne and John O'Shea seem to be the men in possession, Paul McShane can play there as well but we don't have too many after that so I hope I can be next in line when Ireland need a centre half," added St Ledger, who was first made aware of his eligibility for Ireland when he lined out for Peterborough alongside Irish boys like Killian Brennan, Neale Fenn and John O'Flynn.
"I have been happy with my form this season. We have been good defensively and kept a few clean sheets in the last while, but we can do better and certainly out away form can improve".
Ireland international Stephen Hunt is confident that new signing, and fellow Irishman Jay Tabb will play a key role for Reading between now and the end of the season.
Tabb, a £600,000 Coventry City signing is yet to even make the bench under boss Steve Coppell but Hunt sees the diminutive player as the main threat for his position now that Bobby Convey has left the club to sign for San Jose Earthquakes.
“Bobby has gone and I wish him well but Jay is more of a threat now,” explained Hunt.
“He comes in, puts in his shift in training and has done well.
“He can play left or right wing, central midfield or behind the striker so it’s good competition for me. I know I feel him breathing down my neck. It’s good to have that.
“He’s a very good player. He was Player of the Year at Coventry and at Brentford where I played with him so I know all about him.
“I think he could play a big part in the remaining games if he does get his chance. We’re also looking for a big impact from Jimmy Kebe, me and the two strikers.”
And Hunt also quipped: “I know all about Jay’s golf abilities as well. He’s a very good player with a lovely, picturesque swing so I’ll be keeping my money in my pocket. Whether he’s got the bottle on the greens I’m not too sure.”
Irishman Willo Flood insists he will not not take a place in the Celtic team for granted, despite being handed his debut in the Old Firm derby.
Flood started Sunday's goalless Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw at Parkhead only two weeks after joining his boyhood idols.
The 23-year-old Dublin born midfielder - who spent 18 months on loan at Dundee United before parent club Cardiff agreed to sell him to Celtic - knows the quality of the squad the Scottish champions possess means he can never rest on his laurels.
He said: "The standard of players in the squad is what I expected.
"I've played against Celtic often enough to know how good guys like Scott Brown, Paul Hartley and Barry Robson are. It's competitive in training but that's because we all want to play.
"All the players have a winning streak in them. There is a lot of talent in this squad, but that's what life at a big club is like. We are all fighting for places in the team.
"I just want to work hard in training and hopefully catch the manager's eye. I want to get a few more games before the end of the season and hopefully help bring the title back to Celtic Park."
Sunday's result left leaders Celtic two points clear of arch-rivals Rangers and Flood knows there is all to play for in the SPL run-in.
"This is a crucial stage of the season, but I think we all know that it's time to stand up, be counted and take it home from here," he said. "There are 13 games to go and we need to push on.
"We have the quality in the squad to do that and I think the spirit is there as well.
"There's a good camaraderie between the boys and we are all chasing the same goal.
"Fingers crossed, we can have a successful end to the season."
Celtic will find themselves playing catch-up for the first time since November if Rangers beat Kilmarnock on Saturday.
The champions travel to Motherwell 24 hours later and Flood believes Mark McGhee's in-form side are capable of derailing the Hoops' title bid.
"I'm preparing for a really hard game on Sunday," Flood said.
"I rate Motherwell highly as a team and I wouldn't be surprised if they made a late charge for third place.
"They will definitely be up there challenging come the end of the season because they have a great squad and a good manager. They are hitting form at exactly the right time."
Much has been made of the appalling state of Motherwell's Fir Park pitch and Celtic have hinted it may influence team selection this weekend.
Flood told Celtic View: "I just hope the Fir Park pitch is better than it's been over the past year.
"At times last season, it was like playing on St Andrew's beach but hopefully that won't be the case on Sunday."
Kevin Doyle has spoken of the importance of getting three points against Bulgaria in next months crucial World Cup Group 8 qualifier in Croke Park.
Doyle helped Ireland join Italy at the top of their World Cup qualifying group following last week’s 2-1 win over Georgia.
Trapattoni’s men now face a home match against Bulgaria at the end of next month before facing a trip to Italy four days later.
Doyle said: “We will look to get a win at home and then whatever we can get away, but we need to keep the pressure on by beating Bulgaria.
“Top goes straight through and the second goes into a play-off which is tough. If we can get a win against Bulgaria it means it’s virtually impossible for them to catch us.”And Doyle says being named Ireland’s Player of the Year is an honour.
The Reading and Ireland striker was last week named the FAI’s top man for his heroics in 2008.
And he now has a crucial role in his country’s bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and has played in every competitive game under Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
Doyle said: “I was up against Shay Given and John O’Shea so I am very happy to win because that is stiff competition. I am delighted with it. It’s a real honour.
“John has won a Champions League and Shay Given is one of the busiest and best keepers in the league. They have both played well for Ireland and I won’t forget this in a hurry.
“It is nice to win because the people who have won the award before have been pretty good.”
Doyle suffered a miserable season with Reading last year as the club were relegated from the Premier League, but he has bounced back to form during this campaign.
He added: “My year wasn’t fantastic with Reading because of relegation, but I did pretty well for Ireland and the last six months for Reading has been pretty good.
“It is nice to be recognised by other people and have them think I am doing well. The press in Ireland obviously think I did a decent job, so that is good, especially considering who I was up against.”
Thomond Park in Limerick is set to host the Ireland football team for two international friendlies over the next 12 months.
FAI officials are close to finalising an agreement to play at the Limerick venue on the 12 August.
And FAI chief Executive John Delaney is also in talks with Munster Rugby about playing a second match at the stadium next spring.
'The Aviva Stadium is where we'll play all our internationals going forward but there's a window of opportunity now to play some games in Thomond Park,' said Delaney.
'It's a wonderful facility and will also facilitate some of our supporters in the Munster and Connacht areas.'
Steve Coppell believes Kevin Doyle ranks as one of his best-ever signings during his 25-year managerial career.
Royals’ 17-goal leading scorer was last week named Ireland’s Player of the Year for 2008.
Doyle arrived at Madejski Stadium in the summer of 2005 as an unknown from Cork City for a fee of just £78,000.
In the season that followed he helped fire Reading to the title and he has so far netted 55 goals in 137 starts, plus 14 substitute appearances.
Coppell has unearthed plenty of unpolished gems in his time, the most famous being Ian Wright from non-league football when he was in charge of Crystal Palace in the 80s.
Wright went on to become an Arsenal legend and an England international.
But Royals’ boss reckons Doyle is just as good a signing.
He told the Evening Post: “He is definitely right up there with the best of them, because of his character as well as ability.
“I would never say one is a better signing than another, but his contribution and commitment, in an age when it is easy to think the grass is greener on the other side, is terrific.”
Doyle is now a key player for his country. He has started every competitive match under new boss Giovanni Trapattoni, including the Republic’s 2-1 win over Georgia in a World Cup qualifier at Croke Park last week.
And Coppell believes he is a worthy winner of Ireland’s Player of the Year.
Royals’ boss added: “I think it is recognition by the Irish who voted for him.
“At Reading we have a strong Irish influence. I am sure a lot of Irish people watch our games and they will see his unflinching dedication and commitment.
“He is a player who has come from their domestic league and who has, right from day one, seized the opportunity with enthusiasm and ability. There are times he could have been a prima donna but he has continued to play his football in an exceptional manner for his country and club.
“He has often been used as a lone player up front for his country and is expected to cover a million miles.
“But he does it without complaining. During and after games he is 100 per cent committed and he continues to be a success.
“He is the kind of player managers and coaches dream about in an age where agents have a lot of influence and there are a lot of other agendas.
“He just gets on with the job. If he has missed any training sessions I could count them on the finger of one hand since he has been with us. There are not many players like him.”
Burnley boss Owen Coyle believes goalscoring hero Chris McCann is already good enough to play in the Premiership.
The Ireland under 21 international netted the winner against Wolves at the weekend to keep alive Burnley's hopes of pushing into the play-offs and Coyle was delighted with the Dubliner.
Coyle said: "It was a terrific piece of football for the goal; a great cross from Wade Elliott and Chris McCann does what he does best, arriving in the box and it's a great finish.
"I've said before I think Chris McCann could step in and play in the Premier League tomorrow. Having worked with him, he's getting better all the time.
"He's one of a group of players we have that have shown they can stand toe-to-toe with the very best players that are going about."
The Dublin born midfielder has had a fractious relationship with Ireland u21 manager Don Givens, however with his exceptional club form for Burnley this season, a call-up to Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad may be a distinct possibility.
In 2007 McCann opted out of the Irish U21 squad to play Bulgaria two hours prior to kick-off claiming he was wasting his time having been selected on the bench. An indication of how this may affect his future in the Irish set up was provided when U21 manager Don Givens was asked if he would pick him again and he replied "Will I pick him again? Would you?" Givens later apolgised adding "I take it back, its nice to see Chris developing into a player of true class"
